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STATE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

Printers,  Stationeri,  Binders, 

HELENA,   MONTANA. 


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c^  NOTE. 

This  little  volume  is   dedicated  to  the  memory  of   our 
dead  Bishop.     On  December  20  of  last  year,  there  was  held, 
in   St.   Aloysius'  Hall,  a  memorial  meeting  of  the   mem- 
bers of  the  Cathedral  parish  in  token  of  the  people's  af- 
4o       fection  for  their  deceased  Pastor.     At  that  meeting  it  was 
S       resolved   that   the    eulogies   there   spoken   should  be   pre- 
served, and  these  are  contained  in  the  following  pages, 
g  In  addition  there  are  herein  reproduced  a  biographical 

sketch,  an  account  of  the  obsequies,  tributes  from  the 
public  press,  resolutions  of  Catholic  societies,  sentiments  of 
the  clergy  and  of  religious  communities,  and  other  kind 
expressions  of  respect  and  appreciation  which  came  from 
various  sources  on  the  mournful  occasion  of  the  decease 
of  the  distinguished  prelate. 

Besides  being  expressive  of  the  existing  grief  of  the  dio- 
cese for  the  great  loss  of  its  pioneer  Bishop,  these  pages 
may  be  of  use  to  the  future  historian  who  will  essay  to 
write  an  adequate  history  of  the  life  and  the  life-work  of 
John  B.  Brondel,  first  Bishop  of  Helena. 


a  Biographical  SF^etcb 

John  Baptist  Brondel  was  born  sixty-two  years  ago  in 
Bruges  the  quaint  old  Flemish  city  of  which  Longfellow 
sang.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  February  23,  1843,  and  his 
parents  were  Charles  Joseph  and  Isabella  Becquet  Brondel, 
His  father,  who  followed  the  business  of  chair-manufacturer 
in  his  native  Bruges,  died  in  1868;  his  mother  died  in  1875. 
Both  father  and  mother  possessed  the  same  intensely  re- 
ligious nature  which  was  so  characteristic  of  their  son.  Of 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  were  boys,  John  Baptist  was 
the  sixth  child  and  the  fifth  boy. 

HIS  STUDENT  DAYS. 

He  received  his  primary  instruction  at  the  institute  of 
the  Xaverian  Brothers  which  had  been  recently  established 
in  his  native  city.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  entered  the  col- 
lege of  St.  Louis  in  the  same  city  where  he  devoted  ten 
years  to  the  prosecution  of  his  classical  course.  Already 
when  a  child  it  had  been  his  desire  to  become  a  missionary 
to  the  Indians.  An  older  brother,  on  his  return  one  day 
from  the  college,  brought  with  him  a  book  containing 
the  letters  of  Rev.  Father  De  Smet,  the  pioneer  of  mis- 
sionaries to  the  Northwest.  These  letters,  which  were 
read  by  the  paternal  fireside,  aroused  all  the  religious  en- 
thusiasm of  the  young  lad,  and  fired  his  soul  with  a  holy 
zeal  for  the  conversion  of  the  Indians.  Accordingly  upon 
graduating  from  St.  Louis  College  he  announced  his  de- 
cision to  pass  to  the  American  College  of  Louvain  to 
prepare  himself  for  the  missions  of  the  Northwest.  It  was 
in  his  twentieth  year,  viz.,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  that  John 
Baptist  Brondel  entered  the  American  College  of  Louvain, 
which  was  just  then  opening  its  fifth  scholastic  term. 
There  are  still  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  American 


6  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

College  two  letters  written  by  the  Superior  of  the  St.  Louis 
College  to  Father  De  Neve,  Eector  of  the  American  Col- 
lege, which  heralded  the  coming  of  young  Brondel. 

These  letters  are  from  the  first  line  to  the  last  in  com- 
mendation of  the  youthful  missionary  candidate  whom  his 
late  superior  took  pleasure  in  introducing  to  his  future 
one.  One  of  the  letters  ended  with  the  words:  "J'aime  a 
croire.  Monsieur  le  Superieur,  que  vous  trouverez  en  mon- 
sieur Brondel  une  riche  matiere  pour  en  faire  un  fervent 
apotre."  The  good  superior  mistook  not  the  worth  of  his 
pupil;  and  the  hope  of  seeing  him  become  a  real  apostle 
failed  not  of  realization,  as  thirty-eight  years  of  mission- 
ary zeal  in  the  Far  West,  first  as  a  priest  and  then  as 
'Bishop,  amply  testify.  To  Father  De  Neve,  who  was  a 
prince  in  the  art  of  Judging  men,  the  warmly  recommended 
Brugeite  became  a  pupil  of  predilection.  Three  years 
after  his  entrance,  Dec.  17,  1864,  he  was  allowed  to  go  up 
for  ordination;  but  he  remained  two  years  longer  in  the 
institution,  in  order  to  fit  himself  more  perfectly  for  the 
apostolic  career  that  formed  the  goal  of  his  youthful  as- 
pirations. For  the  advantages  he  secured  through  this 
longer  stay,  he  ever  showed  himself  duly  thankful  to  his 
beloved  rector;  for  in  a  letter  he  penned  from  America, 
after  several  years  of  active  ministry,  he  wrote:  "The 
longer  I  am  on  the  mission,  the  more  thankful  I  feel  to 
you  for  the  innumerable  favors  you  conferred  on  me. 
Among  these  favors,  I  would  cite  the  one  of  five  years' 
seminary,  and  that  of  your  insistence  of  my  learning  the 
English  language." 

AS  A  PRIEST. 

The  month  of  September,  1866,  saw  Father  Brondel's 
departure  for  the  far-away  diocese  of  Nesqually,  to  which 
he  had  been  admitted  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  A.  M.  A. 
Blanehet.  After  a  long  and  tedious  journey,  by  way  of 
England  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  he  landed  at  Fort 
Vancouver,  his  bishop's  residence,  on  All  Hallow's  Eve. 
Here  he  spent  the  next  ten  months  in  the  double  capacity 
of  teacher  at  the  Holy  Angels'  College  and  of  assistant 
at  the  Cathedral.     As  he  had  gone  to  the  West  with  the 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  7 

cherished  hope  of  being  choseu  by  his  superior  to  work 
among  the  Indian  tribes  who  at  Lhat  time  still  lorded  it 
over  the  greater  part  of  that  section  of  the  American  com- 
monwealth, he  improved  his  every  opportunity  at  Fort 
Vancouver  to  master  the  Chinook  tongue — a  jargon  of 
Indian  dialects,  French,  and  Euglish,  understood  by  all  the 
Indians  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  When  accordingly,  agree- 
able to  his  desires,  he  was  named,  on  the  feast  of  St. 
Augustine,  1867,  for  the  mission  of  Steilacoom,  on  the 
Puget  Sound,  he  was  equipped  all  around  for  the  task  that 
awaited  him  there  with  the  Indians  of  three  neighboring 
reservations,  and  with  the  white  farmers  and  the  lumber- 
mill  hands  who  were  quietly  but  surely  invading  the  coun- 
try. That  worldly  prospects  in  the  sphere  allotted  to  him 
were  not  of  the  brightest  may  be  gathered  from  the  fol- 
lowing description  of  it  sent  to  Father  De  Neve  in  1868: 

"Ten  miles  north  of  Steilacoom,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Puyallup,  and  ten  miles  to  the  south,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Nesqually,  axe  the  Indian  reserves  bearing  these  names. 
There  are  scattered  about,  throughout  the  country,  sixty 
families  of  white  farmers.  Twenty  of  these — the  nearest 
living  five  miles  from  my  residence^ — are  Catholics.  By 
dint  of  hard  labor  they  eke  out  a  poor  but  honest  living. 
At  Steilacoom  itself  but  three  families,  of  the  forty  mak- 
ing up  the  population,  are  of  the  Faith.  A  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  town  I  have  a  few  church  members  among 
the  soldiers  of  the  United  States  Fort  established  there. 
My  church  looms  up  in  the  middle  of  the  woods.  Con- 
nected with  it  there  is  no  presbytery;  but  I  rejoice  in  hav- 
ing a  convent  near  by.  Its  community  of  three  Sisters 
takes  care  of  a  few  orphans  and  teaches  the  children  of 
the  town  and  of  the  surrounding  country.  On  the  first 
Sunday  following  my  arrival,  after  three  ringings  of  the 
church-bell,  I  celebrated  Mass  for  a  congregation — filling 
one  half  of  the  seats — of  fifty  people.  Accustomed  as  I 
had  been  to  seeing  crowded  churches,  I  said  to  myself: 
'Was  it  worth  my  while  to  leave  all  that  was  dearest  to 
me  on  earth,  to  bury  myself  in  these  solitudes,  to  expose 
myself  to  all  sorts  of  dangers,  for  the  sake  of  a  handful 
of  G-od's  adorers  who  call  for  my  ministrations?'     When 


8  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

later  on,  I  was  brought  face  to  face,  not  only  with  the  in- 
difference of  many,  but  also  with  the  scorn  and  hatred 
of  not  a  few;  when  I  came  to  apprehend  the  want  of  even 
the  necessaries  of  life,  I  mused:  'What  good  is  there  in 
staying  here,  since,  with  the  exception  of  three  Sisters  and 
a  few  children  under  their  care,  scarcely  any  one  ap- 
proaches the  Sacraments?'  But  I  immediately  answered 
my  own  question:  'I  will  do  my  work  here,  as  God  wills 
it;  and,  if  it  pleases  Him,  He  will  not  fail  to  give  the  in- 
crementum.  Every  day  I  will  offer  up  the  Holy  Sacrifice 
of  the  Mass.  And  what  can  there  be  more  agreeable  to 
the  Heavenly  Father  than  that  daily  oblation  of  Heaven's 
own  Victim?  I  will  recite  my  office;  so  that  one  voice  at 
least,  on  this  remote  comer  of  the  globe,  will  join  in  the 
never  ceasing  concert  of  the  Universal  Church.  Then 
there  are  these  good  Eeligious  and  their  innocent  charges! 
Their  example,  their  prayers,  their  sacrifices,  must  bring 
forth  fruit  in  God's  own  good  time.  And,  after  all,  there 
are  a  few  who  attend  the  services^ — some  even  riding  a  dis- 
tance of  seventeen  miles  to  do  so.  At  least  they  and  their 
children  will  be  kept  within  the  true  fold.  They  will  be 
just  that  many  souls  gained  for  Heaven.  My  conclusion, 
therefore,  was  soon  reached,  and  my  resolution  taken: 
'Here  it  is  that  I  must  work,  oportet  esse  operarium;  I 
will  do  what  I  can,  and  then  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  God  at  least  is  pleased  with  my  efforts  and 
good  will.  In  Him  I  will  put  my  trust,  and  as  He  feeds 
the  birds  of  the  air  and  clothes  the  lilies  of  the  field,  He 
^vill  not  forsake  His  missionary.  I  will  bear  wrongs  pa- 
tiently; I  will  take  insults  for  praise;  and,  like  the  hus- 
bandman, I  will  sow,  though  it  be  without  immediate  pros- 
pect  of   reaping.' " 

The  zealous  missionary,  considering  the  inestimable 
price  the  Son  of  God  paid  for  the  ransom  of  immortal  souls, 
thought  himself  well  repaid  for  his  long  rides,  by  day  and 
by  night,  through  burning  forests,  across  swollen  mountain 
streams,  over  banks  of  quicksand;  for  the  hours  spent  in 
teaching  a  few  children  the  rudiments  of  the  faith,  or  in 
preparing  to  preach  God's  word  to  his  scant  congregation; 
for  the  long  days  of  loneliness,  of  separation  from  his  own 


John   Baptist  Brondel 

At  the  age  of   19 

1861 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  9 

dear  people  at  home,  of  privation  from  the  companionship 
of  those  of  his  kind;  yes,  he  thought  himself  well  repaid 
for  all  that,  because,  at  the  eud  of  three  years,  he  could 
report  forty-five  baptisms  of  children  and  three  of  adults, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  Easter  communions,  three  marriages, 
twenty-eight  first  Communions,  six  Christian  burials.  Yea, 
he  was  duly  thankful  to  God  for  having  given  him  within 
this  lapse  of  three  years  the  means  to  build  a  two-hundred- 
dollar  presbytery,  and  to  pay  sixteen  dollars  monthly  for 
the  meals  that  were  brought  him  three  times  a  day  from 
the  Convent.  In  1870,  he  wrote  to  Father  De  Neve:  "In 
view  of  these  material  and  spirtual  results,  gaudeo  in  Dom- 
ino." And,  indeed,  well  could  he  rejoice;  for  it  is  the 
servant  who  is  faithful  in  a  few  things  whom  our  Lord 
praised  and  to  whom  He  promised  a  place  over  many.  In 
that  same  year  he  built,  at  the  cost  of  $420,  the  first  church 
at  Olympia,  then  the  capital  of  the  Territory  of  Wash- 
ington, as  it  is  now  that  of  the  State.  Five  families  formed 
the  Catholic  church  membership  of  the  town  at  the  time. 
To  hold  services  for  these  few  the  good  Father  had  a 
twenty-five  mile  ride  to  cover  on  horseback.  The  year 
after,  the  first  Catholic  church  edifice  was  erected  under 
his  supervision  at  Tacoma;  and  he  was  subsequently  in- 
strumental in  the  building  of  churches  for  the  Puyallup  and 
Nesqually  Indians. 


BISHOP  OF  VANCOUVEK. 

After  eleven  years  of  unremitting  toil  on  the  Sound, 
and  one  year  between  these  spent  in  Eastern  Wash- 
ington, at  Walla  Walla  and  Frenchtown,  the  modest 
missionary  saw  himself  called  to  take  the  place  of  his 
classmate  and  friend.  Bishop  Chas.  Seghers,  as  chief  pas- 
tor of  the  Vancouver  Diocese.  It  was  at  his  friend's  own 
hands  that  he  received  the  episcopal  consecration,  Dec.  14, 
1879,  in  what  was  to  be  his  episcopal  church  for  the  next 
three  years.  His  Jurisdiction  over  Vancouver  and  adjoin- 
ing islands,  as  well  as  over  frozen  Alaska,  entailed  mis- 
sionary journeys  even  more  difficult  and  dangerous  than 
those  undertaken  on  the  Sound.     At  least  we  know  that 


10  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Monsignor  Brondel  often  thought  it  to  have  been  less 
risky  to  wade  through  the  Kesqually  on  stilts,  as  he  had 
frequently  done,  with  portable  altar  and  belongings  on 
his  back,  and  to  cross  the  turbulent  White  River  or  the 
Puyallip  astride  a  horse  than  to  confide  himself  in  an  open 
canoe  rowed  by  Indians  to  the  treacherous  waters  of  the 
miscalled   Pacific    Ocean. 

The  year  after  his  consecration,  Bishop  Brondel  had  the 
privilege  of  dedicating  to  America's  first  Saint  Alaska's 
first  Catholic  church,  built  at  Fort  Wrangle  by  Father  J. 
Althoff,  the  first  priest,  and  for  years  the  only  one,  in 
the  Polar  country. 

In  1882,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  of  Vancouver  Island  made 
his  first  visit  ad  limina,  profiting  of  the  opportunity  to  col- 
lect, in  his  native  country,  pecuniary  means,  and  to  enlist 
priestly  vocations  for  the  missions  under  his  pastoral  charge. 
tHe  took  to  Rome  at  the  same  time  the  prayer  of  the 
Bishops  of  the  Oregon  Province  for  the  erection  of  Mon- 
tana into  a  separate  diocese.  This  first  part  of  the  sketch  is 
reprinted  from  The  American  College  Bulletin  of  Louvain. 

BISHOP  OF  HELENA. 

On  April  21,  1883,  the  bearer  of  the  request  was  himself 
appointed  administrator  of  Montana,  though  he  still  re- 
tained the  title  of  Bishop  of  Vancouver.  Obedient  to  the 
voice  of  the  supreme  pastor  of  souls,  he  repaired  with  great 
haste  to  the  mountainous  country^  where  he  arrived  in  the 
fore  summer  of  the  same  year. 

Upon  the  field  he  found  the  fathers  and  brothers  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus,  who,  since  1841,  long  before  the  coming 
of  the  miner  and  the  settler,  had  cast  their  lot  with  the 
Indians  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  work  of  their  Chris- 
tianization  was  well  in  hand,  especially  among  the  Flat- 
heads.  Four  secular  priests  were  ministering  to  the  spirit- 
ual wants  of  the  whites  in  different  parts  of  the  territory. 
Their  dean.  Rev.  R.  Deryckere  of  Deer  Lodge,  a  former 
schoolmate  of  the  Bishop,  had  been  at  his  post  since  1866. 
Two  communities  of  Sisters  were  already  at  work;  the  Sis- 
ters of  the  Providence  of  Montreal,  since  1864;  the  Sis- 
ters of  Charity  of  Leavenworth,  since  1869.     The  Bishop 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  11 

has  since  then  secured  the  services  of  the  Urs aline  Sisters 
in  1884,  as  also  those  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Good  Shepherd 
in  1889,  and  finally  the  Daughters  of  Jesus — exiles  from 
France   just    two   months   before   his    death. 

After  spending  a  month  in  visiting  the  western  part  of 
the  then  territory,  he  crossed  the  main  divide  of  the 
Rockies  in  August.  A  careful  inspection  of  the  country 
convinced  him  of  the  fitness  of  Helena  to  be  the  see  of 
the  diocese.  By  hull  of  March  7,  1884,  Leo  XIII  erected 
the  vicariate  into  a  diocese  with  Helena  as  the  episcopal 
see.  A  bull  of  the  same  date  appointed  the  subject  of  our 
biographical  sketch  the  first  Bishop  of  the  new  diocese.  The 
growth  of  the  diocese  during  the  administration  of  Bishop 
Brondel  will  be  gathered  from  the  following  statistics : 

1884.  1903. 

Diocesan  priests   4  38 

Regular  priests   12  15 

Churchesi    16  65 

Hospitals    4  8 

Academies    3  7 

Parochial  schools    3  9 

Orphans'  home    .  .  1 

House  of  Good  Shepherd .  .  1 

Ecclestiastical  students 1  13 

Indian   schools    2  10 

Catholic  population   15,000  50,000 

At  the  time  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  government  ap- 
propriations 1,000  school  children  boarded  at  the  Catholic 
Indian  schools. 

These  statistics  give  but  aji  inadequate  idea  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  church  in  Montana  since  the  bishop's  advent. 

Besides  the  erection  of  numerous  new  structures,  the 
buildings  prior  to  1884  have,  in  almost  every  case,  been  en- 
larged, remodeled  or  rebuilt.  The  work  required  to  bring 
about  this  remarkable  growth  will  appear  more  strikingly 
from  a  consideration  of  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  terri- 
tory. 

The  diocese  of  Helena  is  co-extensive  with  the  state  of 
Montana,     which  covers  an  area  of  146,080  square  miles. 


12  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Generally  speaking,  it  is  a  sparsely  settled  country.  To 
visit  its  Catholic  population,  the  bishop  had  to  travel  not 
less  than  an  average  of  3,000  miles  a  year;  sometimes,  it  is 
true,  in  Pullman  cars,  but  more  often  in  primitive  stage 
coaches  over  rough  and  not  less  primitive  and  dangerous 
mountain  roads.  Besides  the  extensive  journeyings  in  his 
own  diocese,  long  and  arduous  trips  were  undertaken  out- 
side the  state  for  the  welfare  of  his  flock.  In  1884:  he  at- 
tended the  third  plenary  council  at  Baltimore.  Provincial 
matters  have  repeatedly  called  him  to  Portland,  a  distance 
of  1,000  miles.  The  interests  of  the  Indians  of  his  diocese, 
which  the  bishop  has  always  had  at  heart,  induced  him 
to  undertake  collecting  tours  in  the  East.  The  proceeds 
of  the  first  tour  in  1885,  amounting  to  $5,000,  enabled  him 
to  establish  a  mission  in  the  midst  of  the  most  warlike 
of  his  children,  his  beloved  Cheyennes. 

Speak  to  the  Cheyennes  of  their  Mache  Majone  Wio — 
Great  White  Man  from  Above — and  they  will  recount  with 
gratitude  his  successful  efforts  in  obtaining  from  the  Great 
Father  at  Washington  recognition  of  their  wishes  to  retain, 
as  a  reservation,  their  old  Tongue  river  home.  Nor  do  they 
forget  how  in  1885  he  enlisted  the  good  services  of  Govern- 
or Hauser  in  obtaining  from  the  government  the  sum  of 
$11,000  to  rescue  them  from  starvation. 

At  the  request  of  the  bureau  of  Catholic  missions,  Bishop 
Brondel  in  1899  spoke  in  all  of  the  larger  churches  in  Phi- 
ladelphia, Boston  and  New  York  in  behalf  of  the  Catholic 
Indian  schools  of  the  United  States.  On  this  occasion  he 
collected  about  $10,000. 

In  accordance  with  the  prescriptions  of  Canon  law,  he 
has,  since  his  ajipointment  to  Helena,  made  two  visits  to 
the  Holy  Father,  one  in  1889  and  the  other  in  1899.  While 
in  Europe  in  1890  he  joined  the  annual  Catholic  English 
pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Land. 

The  Rt.  Eev.  Bishop  John  B.  Brondel  lived  to  see  a 
realization  of  the  words  of  the  Et.  Rev.  James  O'Connor  of 
Omaha  written  in  1879.  "The  day  is  not  distant  when 
Montana  will  become  one  of  the  most  fruitful  and  flourish- 
ing, as  well  as  the  most  beautiful  portions  of  God's  vine- 
yard." 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  18 

But  there  was  one  great  desire  of  his  life  which  was  not 
to  be  gratified.  We  reproduce  iierewith  an  interview  which 
appeared  in  the  "Helena  Herald"  under  date  of  April  13, 
1901. 

'If  you  had  $100,000  to  spend,  what  would  you  do  with 
the  money?"  Bishop  John  B.  Brondel  was  asked  in  the 
course  of  a  conversation  with  a  friend  to-day. 

It  didn't  take  the  bishop  a  moment  to  answer. 

"I'd  build  a  mighty  cathedral  in  place  of  the  church  we 
now  have,"  he  said  without  a  moment's  hesitation. 

It  is  the  dream  of  the  bishop's  life  to  build  a  cathedral 
worthy  of  the  name  on  Catholic  hill  in  Helena.  For  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  century  Bishop  Brondel  has  had  authority  as 
a  bishop  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  in  all  that  time  he  has 
hoped  some  day  to  build  a  great  church.  He  has  seen  his 
diocese  grow  until  now  it  is  far  from  being  the  weakest  in 
America,  as  it  once  was.  Next  June  Bishop  Brondel  will 
celebrate  the  18th  anniversary  as  bishop  of  Helena.  When 
he  was  appointed  bishop  of  the  diocese  there  were  only  16 
Catholic  churches  in  Montana;  now  there  are  63.  Then 
there  were  only  15,000  communicants  of  the  Catholic  faith 
in  the  state;  now  there  are  50,000. 

And  yet  with  all  the  advancements  of  the  Catholic  church 
in  Montana,  Bishop  Brondel  has  been  imable  to  realize  his 
ambition  in  respect  to  a  new  cathedral.  There  has  always 
been  such  a  pressing  demand  for  funds  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  the  church  throughout  the  state  that  he  has  been  unable 
to  make  any  headway  with  a  fund  for  a  cathedral. 

"We  should  have  a  better  cathedral  than  this  little  build- 
ing over  here,"  he  said  as  he  waved  his  hand  toward  the 
brick  church  100  feet  away.  "It  is  the  church  of  the  living 
Grod,  and  should  be  more  commodious,  more  imposing.  Ah ! 
I  can  almost  see  in  imagination  a  great  stone  church  with 
lofty  spires  and  a  bell  tower —  a  church  with  a  great  audi- 
torium capable  of  seating  all  the  members  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  one  time  together  with  all  the  strangers  who  visit  it." 

Bishop  Brondel  paused  a  moment,  and  then  added: 

"But  I  suppose  I  will  never  see  such  a  church  here.  It 
will  come  in  time,  but  not  in  my  time,  I  am  afraid. 

"There  are  now  about  3,000  communicants  of  the  Cath- 


14  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

olic  faith  in  Helena  with  another  1,000  in  East  Helena  and 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  city,"  continued  the  bishop, 
''and  here  we  have  a  church  which  will  seat  only  400  or  500 
person^,." 

"I  am  not  complaining  at  all.  There  is  a  good  work  be- 
ing done  in  this  state,  and  work,  particularly  a  new  country 
like  this,  cannot  be  prosecuted  without  money.  The  money 
raised  in  the  diocese  is  being  put  to  good  use,  and  the  time 
will  come,  I  believe,  when  we  may  go  ahead — when  some  one 
may  go  ahead  — with  the  building  of  a  cathedral  worthy  of 
the  diocese  and  of  the  church." 

HIS  LAST  ILLNESS. 

The  first  announcement  of  the  bishop's  illness  was  made 
at  "the  masses  or  Sunday,  November  1,  when  the  prayers  of 
the  faithful  were  asked  for  his  recovery.  The  ominous  an- 
nouncement came  as  a  terrible  shock  to  the  Catholic  con- 
greg;,tions  of  the  city.  Up  to  a  few  days  before  the  bishop 
had  b^^en  seen  frequently  on  the  streets  and  seemed  in  per- 
fect health.  During  the  summer  months  he  had  made  his 
usual  tour  of  the  diocese  during  which  he  administered  Con- 
firmation in  twenty-four  churches. 

Immediately  after  these  visitations  he  had  gone  to  Van- 
couver, his  former  see,  to  assist,  on  October  4,  at  the  cere- 
monies incident  to  the  conferring  of  the  pallium  on  Arch- 
bishop Orth;  on  this  occasion  he  himself  preached  the  ser- 
mon. On  October  14  he  participated  in  an  important  meet- 
ing of  the  Bishops  in  Portland.  On  his  way  home  he  stop- 
ped at  Anaconda,  where,  on  October  18,  he  gave  Confirma- 
tion and  dedicated  a  new  altar  in  St.  Peter's  Church.  From 
Anaconda  he  went  to  Butte,  where,  on  the  following  day, 
October  19,  he  attended  the  funeral  of  the  late  John  Caplice 
between  Avhom  and  the  bishop  there  existed  an  acquaintance 
of  long  standing; — it  was  Mr.  Caplice  who  had  driven  the 
bishop  from  Missoula  to  Butte  on  the  bishop's  first  visit  to 
Montana  in  1883. 

When  the  bishop  arrived  at  Helena  on  October  20,  he 
was  apparently  in  good  health;  in  fact  not  a  few  congrat- 
ulated him  on  his  appearance.  He  was  suffering,  however, 
from  chronic  bronchitis — which  had  troubled  him  in  past 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  16 

years  and  which  had  now  been  brought  on  anew  through  a 
cold  caught  on  the  train  during  his  homeward  journey,  lie 
also  experienced  an  unusually  great  dilliculty  in  breathing, 
and  complained  of  feeling  very  tired.  When  one  of  his 
priests  advised  him  to  take  absolute  rest  for  a  few  days,  he 
replied  that  he  feared  it  would  take  all  winter  to  recover 
from  his  fatigue.  At  the  time  it  was  thought  that  this 
tiredness  was  but  a  temporai-y  effect  of  the  Bishop's  long 
journeyings;  for  he  had  travelled  thousands  of  miles  during 
the  summer.  No  one  dreamed  that  it  was  a  premonition  of 
approaching  death. 

On  Friday,  October  23,  the  Bishop  issued  a  brief  circular 
to  the  clergy.  In  this  circular — destined  to  be  his  last — 
he  makes  mention  of  the  year's  visitations,  and  closes  with 
these  words:  "Everywhere  we  have  witnessed  the  devo- 
tion of  the  clerg}^,  the  piety  of  the  people,  and  the  progress 
of  our  holy  religion.  We  have,  therefore,  reason  to  thank 
God,  and  to  congratulate  our  beloved  co-laborers  wishing 
them  all  Godspeed  in  the  great  work  of  building  up  the 
holy  Catholic  church  in  our  diocese." 

On  Wednesday  evening,  October  28,  the  Bishop  went  to 
the  depot  to  meet  Prince  Henry  de  Croy  of  Brussels,  who 
had  come  all  the  way  from  St.  Paul  solely  to  pay  his  respects 
to  his  illustrious  countryman.  It  was  on  the  following  day, 
Thursday,  that  the  Bishop  offered  the  holy  sacrifice  for  the 
last  time.  He  refrained  reluctantly  from  saying  mass  on 
Friday  on  the  solicitation  of  friends  who  had  become  some- 
what alarmed  at  symptoms  of  an  abnormal  condition  of  the 
blood,  scattered  about  the  face. 

However,  up  to  Saturday  evening  he  continued  his  cus- 
tomary activity  in  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the 
diocese.  On  Friday  he  presided  over  a  meeting  of  the  dio- 
sesan  consultors  which  lasted  several  hours.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day,  acting  on  the  advice  of  his  physician,  Dr.  Wm. 
Treacy,  the  Bishop  went  to  St.  John's  Hospital,  where  he 
at  once  took  to  his  bed.  He  did  not  feel  especially  ill 
and  at  9:30  p.  m.  he  held  a  conference  with  the  Eev. 
Father  Day  to  whom  he  committed  letters  dealing  with  mat- 
ters of  importance  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Bishops  of  the 
Province  and  to  Cardinal  Gotti,  Prefect  of  the  Propaganda. 


16  A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Later  in  the  evening  he  expressed  regret  that  he  would  not 
be  able  to  otficiate,  in  his  Cathedral,  at  the  services  to  be 
held  on  the  next  two  days, — the  Feast  of  All  Saints,  and  All 
Soul's  Day. 

During  that  night  he  became  very  ill,  and  at  7:30  o'clock 
the  following  morning  it  was  feared  that  the  end  was  near. 
The  Sacrament  of  Extreme  Unction  was  administered  by 
the  Rev.  Father  Day  just  before  mass  Sunday  morning.  At 
that  time  the  Bishop  was  only  partially  conscious  and  Holy 
Communion  was  not  administered.  Later  he  rallied  slightly 
and  in  the  evening  at  9  o'clock  he  received  Communion.  He 
was  then  perfectly  conscious  and  followed  the  prayers  at- 
tentively and  devoutly.  Then  the  last  blessing  was  given 
after  he  had  invoked  the  name  of  Jesus  and  offered  his  life 
to  God.  Later  in  the  night  he  again  became  delirious,  but 
the  morning  showed  a  slight  improvement  in  his  condition. 
At  noon  on  Monday,  November  2,  four  physicians,  Drs.  Wm. 
Treacy,  Napoleon  Salvail,  Rudolph  Horsky,  and  George  W. 
King  held  a  consultation  at  the  bedside  of  the  distinguished 
patient.  They  could  only  confirm  the  previous  diagnosis 
of  Dr.  Treacy — that  he  was  suffering  from  fatty  degenera- 
tion of  the  heart  with  oedema  of  the  lungs  and  brain. 

The  physicians  held  out  no  hope  for  his  recovery.  Dur- 
ing the  afternoon  he  grew  worse.  Throughout  the  after- 
noon and  the  early  part  of  the  night  he  hovered  between 
life  and  death,  at  times  rallying  and  regaining  conscious- 
ness for  a  few  minutes.  During  these  brief  moments  his 
old  mental  activity  was  again  in  evidence  and  he  recog- 
nized and  spoke  to  a  number  of  the  priests  and  sisters  who 
visited  him.  It  would  be  but  for  a  few  moments,  however, 
and  after  each  recovery  he  would  be  weaker;  and  as  he 
lapsed  back  into  a  state  of  unconsciousness  his  difficult 
breathing  and  almost  imperceptible  heart  action  indicated 
that  he  was  approaching  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  brink  of 
eternity.  At  about  9  o'clock  he  was  again  conscious  for  a 
few  moments  and  showed  that  he  recognized  those  about 
him.  Later  he  relapsed  into  unconsciousness  from  which 
he  never  revived.  At  ten  minutes  past  three,  Tuesday 
morning,  November  3  the  great  change  came  without  a 
struggle,  and  the  Bishop  closed  his  eyes  in  death. 


Rev.  John   Baptist  Brondel 

First   Photo  in  America 

1866 


Zbc  ©becqutea 

With  solemn  ceremony  the  remains  of  the  Right  Eever- 
end  Bishop  were  carried  from  St.  John's  Hospital,  at  8 
o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  to  the  Cathedral  of  the  Sacred 
Hearts.  The  casket  containing  the  body  was  borne  by  the 
Eev.  Victor  Day  of  Helena,  the  Rev.  Cyril  Pauwelyn  of 
Great  Falls,  the  Rev.  A.  R.  Coopman  of  Anaconda,  the  Rev. 
Francis  O'Farrell  of  Townsend,  and  the  Rev.  S.  J.  Sullivan 
of  Helena.  Requiem  mass  was  sung  by  the  Rev.J.  B.  Pir- 
nat  of  Anaconda  before  a  congregation  that  filled  the 
church. 

After  the  service  the  people  were  given  an  opportunity 
to  view  the  body  which,  clothed  in  pontifical  robes,  lay  in 
state  on  a  lofty  catafalque  in  the  main  aisle  of  the  church. 
Throughout  the  day  a  continuous  stream  of  people  poured 
into  the  Cathedral  to  look  for  the  last  time  on  the  face  of 
the  dead  prelate.  Those  who  called  to  pay  their  respecto 
embraced  the  people  of  the  city  generally.  During  his  res- 
idence of  twenty  years  in  Helena  Bishop  Brondel  made 
warm  friend  among  all  classes  of  people,  and  many  non- 
Catholics  mourned  his  death  as  sincerely  as  did  those  of  his 
own  church.  The  Cathedral  had  been  tastefully  draped  in 
black  and  purple,  and  during  the  day  and  throughout  the 
night  a  guard  of  honor,  representing  the  various  Catholic 
societies,  was  in  constant  watch  and  prayer  around  the  body 
until  it  was  laid  in  its  final  resting  place  on  Friday  morning. 

CHILDRENS'  MASS. 

More  than  500  children  attended  the  services  Thursday 
at  9  a.  m.  when  the  Rev.  Father  Day  celebrated  solemn  re- 
quiem mass  exclusively  for  the  little  ones  who  had  gathered 
to  honor  the  memory  of  their  loving  spiritual  father. 

Father  Day  was  assisted  in  conducting  the  services  by 


18  THE  OBSEQUIES 

Father  Pauwelyn,  assistant  priest,  of  Great  Falls;  Father 
Coopman,  deacon,  of  Anaconda;  Father  Gallagher,  sub-dea- 
con, of  Fort  Benton  and  Father  O'Farrell  of  Townsend, 
who  acted  as  master  of  ceremonies. 

Father  Pauwelyn  preached  the  funeral  sermon  to  the 
children.  The  exemplary  life  of  Bishop  Brondel  was  re- 
viewed by  Father  Pauwelyn,  but  the  point  brought  out  in 
the  sermon  was  the  dead  Bishop's  love  for  little  children. 
Father  Pauwelyn  said  that  the  Bishop  had  been  so  simple  in 
his  manner  with  children  that  they  regarded  him  with  the 
same  affection  that  they  felt  for  their  own  fathers. 

It  was  recalled  that  Bishop  Brondel  enjoyed  nothing  so 
much  as  an  opportunity  to  address  a  crowd  of  children, 
and  that  he  always  had  in  store  a  collection  of  happy  stories 
that  were  told  on  such  occasions — stories  the  Helena  child- 
ren loved  to  hear  and  repeat.  Bishop  Brondel,  so  Father 
Pauwelyn  declared,  had  done  much  for  the  education  of 
children,  and  was  deeply  interested  in  the  work  at  the  Or- 
phans' Home. 

The  priest  referred  to  Saint  Leo,  the  child  martyr,  whose 
relic  the  Bishop  had  brought  from  Rome,  and  placed  under 
the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  in  the  Cathedral  of  Sacred 
Hearts. 

In  conclusion  Father  Pauwelyn  emphasized  the  fact  that 
Bishop  Brondel  had  often  been  heard  to  remark  that  lift 
wanted  the  children  of  the  church  to  pray  for  him  after  his 
death.  Bishop  Brondel  did  not  want  the  little  ones  to  have 
an  exalted  idea  of  him,  but  on  the  other  hand  begged  that 
they  be  taught  to  believe  his  soul  needed  their  prayers  to 
assist  it  on  the  heavenly  journey. 

In  the  evening  the  Office  of  the  Dead  was  chanted.  It 
was  a  most  impressive  service  in  which  two  archbishops, 
two  bishops  and  upwards  of  thirty  priests  participated.  The 
Cathedral  not  being  able  to  hold  the  large  number  who 
flocked  to  the  church,  the  doors  were  thrown  open  and 
many  stood  on  the  outside  while  they  listened  to  the  solemn 
service  and  prayed  fervently  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of 
their  dead  pastor. 


THE  OBSEQUIES  19 

PONTIFICAL     REQUIEM     MASS. 

Shortly  before  noon  on  Friday  all  that  was  mortal  of 
the  Eight  Eeverend  John  B.  Brondel  was  laid  to  rest  in 
a  vault  beneath  the  cathedral  of  the  Sacred  Hearts.  The 
last  sad  service  over  the  remains  of  the  late  Bishop  were 
attended  by  the  largest  crowd  that  ever  assembled  at  a 
Helena  funeral.  The  Cathedral  would  scarcely  hold  half 
of  those  assembled  to  pay  a  last  tribute  to  the  departed 
Bishop,  and  the  top  of  the  Catholic  hill,  surrounding  the 
Cathedral,  was  black  with  humanity. 

During  the  morning  between  6:30  and  8:30,  masses  were 
said  in  the  Cathedral,  and  were  largely  attended.  At  9 
o'clock  the  Cathedral  was  more  than  half  tilled  with  people, 
who  had  come  early  in  the  expectation  of  securing  good  seats 
for  the  services,  which  were  not  to  begin  until  10  o'clock. 
It  had  been  determined,  however,  to  admit  no  one  into  the 
Cathedral  until  after  the  procession,  consisting  of  the  clergy, 
pallbearers  and  members  of  the  Catholic  societies,  had  en- 
tered, and  accordingly  it  was  found  necessary  to  clear  the 
Cathedral  and  lock  the  doors. 

At  9  o'clock  the  procession  was  formed.  The  procession 
moved  in  the  following  order:  Crossbearer  and  candle- 
bearers;  banner  of  St.  Aloysius  Sodality;  banner  of  Child- 
ren of  Mary;  banner  of  St.  Joseph's  Verein;  banner  of  St. 
Cyril  and  Method  society,  of  East  Helena;  banner  of  Cath- 
olic Knights  of  America:  pallbearers;  priests;  Bishop  O'- 
Reilly; Bishop  O'Dea:  Bishop  Shanly;  Archbishop  Orth; 
Archbishop  Christie;  Catholic  societies,  including  members 
of  the  societies  represented  at  the  head  of  the  column  by 
banners,  the  Cyril  and  Method  society  of  East  Helena  in 
full  uniform  and  the  Butte  Knights  of  Columbus. 

The  active  pallbearers  were:  Rev.  Father  Crimont,  S.  J. 
President  of  the  Gonzaga  college  at  Spokane:  the  Rev. 
Father  Victor  Day,  of  Helena ;  the  Rev.  Father  A.  R.  Coop- 
man  ,of  Anaconda :  the  Rev.  Father  Kauten,  of  Seattle ;  the 
Rev.  Father  Pudenz,  of  Dillon;  the  Rev.  Father  Phelan,  of 
Deer  Lodge  and  the  Rev.  Father  Stack,  of  Red  Lodge. 

The  honorarv  pallbearers  were:  Thomas  Cruse,  T.  C. 
Power,  T.  H.  Carter,  T.  J.  Walsh,  Dr.  William  Treacy,  Jas. 


20  THE  OBSEQUIES 

A.  Walsh,  Dr.  N.  Salvail,  C.  L.  Dahler,  Major  Martin  Ma- 
ginniss,  C.  T.  Perry,  T.  L.  Martin  and  E.  K.  Purcell,  all  of 
Helena;  Prince  Henry  de  Croy,  of  Brussels,  Belgium;  Wil- 
liam Seallon,  P.  J.  Brophy,  William  McMahon,  Ed  Hickey, 
Thomas  Driscoll,  Dr.  John  Sullivan  Butte;  Dr.  J.  F.  Spel- 
man  and  Col.  O'Leary,  of  Anaconda;  P.  J.  Nolan^  Peter 
Kirscher,  Livingston;  Arthur  Gratton,  John  Kelly,  South 
Butte;  William  Forestell,  William  Pepworth,  Bozeman; 
Paul  McCormick,  John  McCormick,  Billings;  D.  J. 
Donahue,  John  Lucy  Missoula;  John  Hines  Townsend; 
Michael  Driscoll,  Canton;  John  Quigley,  Blackfoot;  John 
Mulcahy,  Deer  Lodge ;  Joseph  Bertrand,  John  Kearne,  Lewis- 
town;  J.  W.  Tattan,  Jerry  Sullivan,  Joseph  Sullivan,  Fort 
Benton;  Dr.  Adams,  T.  E.  Brady,  Great  Falls;  Ed.  Kyan, 
William  Eodgers,  Boulder;  Thomas  Gavin,  Michael  McHale, 
Anaconda;  F.  C.  Byrne,  E.  J.  McLean,  Ked  Lodge;  John 
MacDonald,  Joseph  Henneberry,  Walkerville;  Ed.  O'Neill, 
Glendiye;  James  Coleman,  Miles  City. 

The  members  of  the  society  of  the  Children  of  Mary  and 
the  Aloysius  Sodality  were  formed  west  of  the  episcopal 
residence,  near  St.  John's  hospital,  w^hile  the  members  of 
the  other  societies  stood  on  either  side  of  a  narrow  aisle 
through  the  mass  of  humanity  blocked  between  the  Bishop's 
residence  and  the  Cathedral.  These  men  formed  two  solid 
lines  between  the  residence  and  the  Cathedral,  this  arrange- 
ment being  necessary  in  order  to  secure  the  procession  a 
passage  way  to  the  Cathedral.  At  the  appointed  time,  the 
cross  and  candlebearers  moved  out  of  the  Bishop's  residence. 
The  bannerbearers  stationed  outside,  fell  in  line  with  them. 
They  were  followed  by  the  pallbearers,  the  priests  and 
bishops,  who  in  turn,  were  followed  by  the  members  of  the 
Children  of  Mary  and  the  St.  Aloysius  Sodality,  these  so- 
cieties falling  in  line  directlv  behind  the  priests  and  march- 
ing through  the  aisle  protected  by  the  members  of  the  other 
societies. 

As  the  last  member  of  these  two  societies  passed  into  the 
aisle,  the  members  of  the  societies  which  had  protected  the 
narrow  aisle,  fell  into  line,  those  nearest  the  Bishop's  res- 
idence breaking  first,  and  the  entire  column  doubling  back 
and  marching  into  the   Cathedral  two   abreast,  while  the 


THE  OBSEQUIES  21 

surging  sea  of  humanity  rapidly  filled  the  aisle  made  vacant. 
The  procession  moved  without  the  slightest  disorder  and 
with  the  regularity  of  soldiers. 

Inside  the  Cathedral  the  members  of  the  procession  se- 
cured the  pews  which  had  been  reserved  for  them,  after 
which  the  doors  of  the  Cathedral  were  thrown  open,  and  the 
large  building  was  filled  to  overflowing.  The  doors  were 
kept  open,  and  around  them  the  people  stood,  anxious  to 
catch  a  word  of  the  impressive  service. 

At  10  o'clock  Archbishop  Christie  began  the  celebration 
of  the  pontifical  requiem  high  mass.  The  Rev.  L.  P.  Palla- 
dino,  S.  J.,  was  the  assistant  priest.  The  deacon  of  the 
mass  was  the  Rev.  P.  Desiere,  and  the  sub-deacon  the  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Callaghan.  The  Rev.  S.  J.  Sullivan  was  the  master 
of  ceremonies.  At  this  time  there  were  present  in  the 
sanctuary  Archbishop  Orth  and  Bishops  Shanley  and 
O'Reilly.  Music  was  rendered  by  the  full  choir,  reinforced 
by  the  Rev.  Fathers  Batens,  Van  Clarenbeek  and  Van  Aken. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  mass,  Bishop  O'Dea  began  the 
funeral  sermon,  which  was  a  touching  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  the  departed  Bishop. 


BISHOP    O'DEA'S     SERMON. 

i 

"I  need  not  proclaim  to  you,  beloved  brethren  of  the 
clergy  and  esteemed  members  of  the  laity,  the  object  for 
which  we  are  assembled  here  this  morning.  Everything 
about  me,  the  sad  expression  on  your  faces,  the  gathering 
tear  in  your  eyes  bespeak  that  sorrow  felt  in  your  hearts. 
These  altars,  this  sanctuary,  the  solemn  chant  of  the  re- 
quiem all  remind  us  of  the  sad  purpose  of  this  gathering. 

"We  are  in  fact  face  to  face  with  death.  Is  its  victim 
some  distinguished  member  of  this  congregation?  Is  it 
the  soul  of  some  devoted  and  zealous  priest  who  has  passed 
to  his  reward?  No.  He  whose  death  we  mourn,  and  who 
will  shortly  be  interred  among  the  dead,  is  none  other  than 
the  chief  pastor  of  this  diocese,  the  pious,  the  zealous,  the 
devoted,  the  good  Bishop  Brondel. 

Tie  is  dead.     This  Cathedral  church  has  donned  the  gar- 


22  THE  OBSEQUIES 

ments  of  her  widow-hood.  You  will  never  again  see  him 
minister  at  this  altar,  nor  hear  him  teach  from  this  sanct- 
uary. This  diocese  and  its  numerous  parishes  and  institu- 
tions will  never  again  welcome  him,  and  you,  his  beloved 
priests  and  people,  his  joy  and  his  crown,  will  never  again 
gaze  upon  his  cheerful  countenance.  He  has  passed  from 
earth,  and  has  gone  into  the  home  of  his  eternity.  He 
is  dead." 

Bishop  O'Dea  here  briefly  reviewed  the  active  life  of  the 
departed  prelate,  telling  how  he  had  worked  as  a  missionary 
among  the  Indians^  how  he  had  travelled  throughout  the 
west  spreading  the  doctrine  of  Christianity,  and  lastly  how 
he  had  been  named  as  the  Bishop  of  a  new  diocese,  which 
stood  as  the  vanguard  of  Christian  civilization,  and  how  he 
had  carefully  stood  guard  over  his  flock,  and  how  he  had 
watched  his  diocese  grow  and  prosper. 

"But  though  his  body  is  dead,"  continued  the  bishop,  "his 
soul  liveth.  All  that  was  great  and  noble  and  good  in  Bi- 
shop Brondel,  still  lives  and  will  live  for  all  eternity.  Why, 
then,  should  we  mourn  as  if  we  had  no  hope? 

"An  event  like  this  should  recall  to  our  minds  the  pre- 
carious nature  of  our  condition  here,  and  inspire  us  with 
serious  resolutions  to  live  in  a  constant  state  of  preparation 
to  meet  a  similar  fate.  It  is  one  from  which  no  one  can 
hope  to  escape;  it  is  a  scene  through  which,  sooner  or  later, 
we  must  all  pass,  and  but  a  short  time  will  have  elapsed 
when  it  shall  be  said  of  you  and  me,  as  it  is  said  of  him:  He 
or  she  is  dead. 

"Perhaps  you  will  say  that  there  can  be  no  necessity  for 
embittering  our  lives  with  these  gloomy  reflections,  because 
death  may  be  still  remote  and  we  may  have  time  enough  to 
prepare  for  its  approach.  That  may  be  true,  but  I  speak 
to  you  to-day  as  he  would  and  ask  you  not  to  live  for  an 
instant  in  a  condition  of  uncertainty,  and  do  not  be  de- 
t-eived  by  the  thought  that  your  beloved  Bishop  has  already 
passed  to  his  reward  and  consequently  does  not  stand  in 
need  of  prayers.  Snch  a  delusion  would  be  fatal  to  the  in- 
tersts  of  his  immortal  soul,  and  would  be  deplored  by  his 
best  friends.  Pray  for  him  that  his  soul  may  find  favor  in 
the  sight  of  the  Almighty;  and  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact 


THE  OBSEQUIES  23 

that  this  scene  will  open  up  for  you.  Let  us  live  prepared 
to  meet  God  at  any  time.  Live  as  if  this  day  were  to  be 
your  last  on  earth." 


THE    INTEllMENT      . 

After  the  sermon  took  place  the  five  absolutions  which 
are  performed  over  the  remains  of  a  Pope,  a  Cardinal  a 
Metropolitan,  or  a  Bishop  of  a  diocese.  Archbishop  Christie 
took  off  his  chasuble  and  put  on  a  black  cope,  while  the 
four  assisting  bishops  retired  to  the  sacristy,  and  came  back 
dressed  in  black  copes  and  white  mitres.  Archbishop 
Christie  took  his  place  at  the  feet  of  the  remains,  each  of 
the  other  bishops  taking  positions  at  the  corners  of  the 
coffin.  Each  in  turn  sang  an  absolution,  during  which  oc- 
curred prayers,  incensing  of  the  remains  and  sprinkling  with 
holy  water.  Archbishop  Christie  said  the  last  absolution, 
after  which  the  centre  aisle  was  cleared,  the  candles  were 
removed  from  the  coffin  and  the  procession  was  formed  and 
the  remains  of  the  late  Bishop  were  carried  to  their  final 
resting  place.  After  the  usual  prayers  of  interment  had 
been  read  by  Archbishop  Christie  the  body  was  deposited 
in  the  vault  beside  the  remains  of  Father  Imoda  S.  J.  and 
Father  Eappagliosi  S.  J.,  two  pioneer  priests,  who  died  years 
ago  and  whose  bodies  were  placed  in  the  vault  beneath  the 
Cathedral. 

It  is  not  customary  at  Catholic  funerals  to  open  the 
casket,  but  this  was  done  for  the  benefit  of  Bishop  Glorieux, 
who,  having  Just  arrived,  was  permitted  to  take  a  last  look 
at  the  peaceful  face  of  the  departed  prelate  Just  before  the 
coffin  was  sealed  and  placed  within  the  vault. 


tributes  trom  tbe  Clcrgp 


It  would  be  impossible  to  give  here  all  the  expressions  of 
condolence  and  messages  of  affection  which  the  death  of 
Bishop  Brondel  called  forth  from  within  and  without  the 
diocese  and  the  country.  Among  the  many  telegrams  re- 
ceived were  the  following : 

Accept  my  condolence  on  your  great  loss  by  Bishop's 
death. 

CARDINAL  GIBBONS. 


I  deeply  regret  the  death  of  your  apostolic  bishop. 

ARCHBISHOP  RYAN. 


Receive  my  tribute  of  sincere  sympathy.     Regret  cannot 
attend  funeral. 

JOHN  IRELAND. 


I  sincerely  regret  the  death  of  the  good  Bishop.     It  will 
not  be  possible  for  me  to  go  to  Helena  for  the  funeral. 

ARCHBISHOP  RIORDAN. 


Profound  sympathy  for  death  of  Dear  Bishop  Brondel. 
Engagements  render  it  impossible  to  attend  funeral. 

JOHN  J.  KEANE. 


I  express  my  great  grief  at  the  loss  of  your  good  bishop. 

BISHOP   FINK. 


Benedictine   fathers    send   heartfelt    condolences.     Prior 
absent  from  home. 

F.  DOMINIC,  0.  S.  B. 


TRIBUTES  FROM  THE  CLERGY  26 

Deepest  sympathy  to  priests  and  people  on  the  death  of 
good  Bishop  Brondel.  Can't  understand  why  buried  today 
as  per  your  dispatch  but  could  not  attend  in  any  case,  as  I 
do  not  feel  well. 

L.  SCANLAN. 


From  Bishop  Montgomery  the  Very  Eev.  Administrator 
received  this  letter: 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  enclosure  of  memorial  cards  of 
my  good  friend  Bishop  Brondel.  I  became  acquainted  with 
him  through  his  old  schoolfellow,  his  Grace,  my  Archbishop, 
and  learned  to  love  him  very  much. 

Yours  truly, 

GEO.   MONTGOMEEY. 


When  the  following  words  of  anxious  inquiry  from  the 
President  of  Gonzaga  College,  Spokane,  were  received  in 
Helena  the  Bishop  was  already  dead. 

"We  learned  by  the  papers  that  Bishop  Brondel's  illness  is 
quite  serious  and  that  the  last  sacraments  were  administered 
to  him.  If  the  report  is  true,  we  tender  you  our  sympathy, 
and  we  give  expression  to  our  feelings  toward  his  Lordship. 
We  Join  our  prayers  with  yours  to  obtain  that  our  Lord 
may  preserve  the  life  and  health  of  the  head  of  the  Helena 
Diocese.  The  Bishop  has  warm  friends  here  who  are  anx- 
ious to  know  what  is  the  truth  about  his  condition,  and 
what  the  hopes  and  possibilities  of  his  recovery." 

Yours  sincerely, 

K.  J.  CEIMONT.  S.  J. 


FEOM  THE  DIOCESAN  CLEEGY. 

John  Baptist  Brondel  is  dead.  But  his  memory  shall 
long  be  green  in  Montana.  ISTot  the  least  of  many  reasons 
is  his  personality  gentle  and  tender  as  a  child's.  Nobody 
felt  far  from  him  and  acquaintance  brought  one  nearer 
still.  Charming  in  manner,  interesting  in  conversation, 
anxious  about  the  little  things,  having  a  veneration  for  an- 
tiquity, a  fondness  for  anecdote,  ever  listening  or  counsel- 


26  TRIBUTES  FROM  THE  CLERGY 

ling,  or  sympathizing  or  helping,  and  accounting  all  to  the 
will  of  God.  We  too  must  say,  after  him,  "Thy  will  be 
done." 

The  first  Shepherd  of  the  flocks  among  the  mountains, 
they  will  miss  him.  He  knew  them  all,  and  loved  them. 
His  words  jarred  not,  nor  did  his  staff  hurt,  and  he  cheered 
them  ever  in  his  visits  by  the  strange  and  seasonable  fodder 
he  had  with  him.  But  the  welcome  figure  has  departed, 
there  is  no  grasp  upon  the  staff,  and  the  voice  of  the  kindly 
pastor  is  hushed  for  ever. 

Epicopus  in  state,  and  our  superior  he  was  the  friend  and 
father  of  his  priests.  Even  a  brother-Presbyter  he  could 
not  be  more  truly  than  he  was:  Interested  in  every  move, 
there  in  every  field;  our  ranks  have  lost  a  faithful  soldier. 

He  died  bewailed  by  all  but  most  by  us  his  priests,  his 
children,  his  own.  Fruitless  is  prayer  to  bring  him  back, 
though  hallowed  by  the  lips  of  angels.  But  useful  is  prayer 
in  the  land  to  come  to  court  the  mercy  of  the  Master. 

Bereft  of  our  beloved  Bishop,  let  us  ask  the  Griver  of  all 
gifts  to  send  us  another  Shepherd,  another  Friend,  another 
Father. 

J.  J.  CALLAGHAN, 
A.  E.  COOPMAN, 
JOHN  ENGLISH, 
M.  O'D.  BAEEY, 

Committee. 


FATHEE  PALLADINO'S  TEIBUTE. 

In  the  close  and  familiar  intercourse,  extending  over  a 
number  of  years,  with  our  lamented  Bishop,  what  impressed 
me  most,  and  what  I  always  admired  in  him,  was  his  high 
conception  of  the  office  and  dignity  of  a  Bishop,  coupled 
with  an  equal  disregard  of  the  man  in  his  own  person. 
Thus,  whilst  remarkably  sensitive  to  the  least  thing  touch- 
ing his  exalted  position,  he  would  cheerfully  put  up  with 
almost  anything  concerning  himself — a  combination  of  traits 
both  rare  and  precious,  possessed  by  few,  and  by  many  not 
always  understood,  or  appreciated. 

L.  B.  PALLADINO,  S.  J. 

Missoula,  Mont.,  Feb.  6,  1904. 


TRIBUTES  FROM  THE  CLERGY  27 

LETTER    OF    THE    ET.    EEV.    G.    J.    WAFFELAERT, 
BISHOP  OF  BRUGES,  BELGIUM. 

Revereiide  Domine: — 

Litteras  tuas  de  die  13  Novembris  n.  e.,  quiljiis  obitum 
nuntiabas  Revmi  Dni  Joannis  Baptistae  Brondel,  Episcopi 
Helenensis,  maerens  accepit  Revmus  Praesul  noster.  Nove 
rat  ipse  dilectissimum  Antistitem  in  Domino  obiisse,  sed  de 
ejus  morte  et  exsequiis  nihil  hactenus  audiverat. 

Quae  de  exsequiis  istis  refers  luculenter  demonstrantquanti 
facerent  Revmum  Dnum  Brondel  ipsius  in  episcopali  mune- 
re  coUegae,  quantoque  amore  ac  reverentia  eum  prosequer- 
entur  clerus  et  populus.  Nee  mirum:  Cujus  enini  lugemus 
obitum,  Pontifex  erat  secundum  cor  Dei.  Per  annos  trigin- 
ta  et  amplius,  regno  Christi  dilatando  indefessani  navayit 
operam,  dioeceses  sibi  commisos  zelo  ac  prudentia  pari  gu- 
bernavit,  omnesque  Pastoris  optimi  partes  ad  amussim  im- 
plevit.  Laboribus  fractus,  meritis  refertus  ac  coelo  matu- 
rus  obiit,  aeternum  apud  omnes  relinquens  sui  desiderium. 

Saaie  confidere  licet  virum  hunc  meritissimum  jam  coeles- 
tibus  frue  guadiis,  sed,  quum  investigabiles  sint  viae  Domini, 
dilecticssimae  ipsius  animae  in  precibus  sui  memor  esse  non 
intermittet  Revmus  Praesul  noster. 

Tibi,   alumno   quondam  suo,   fausta  quaevis    apprecatur 
Revmus  Dnus  paternamque  impertitur  benedictionem. 
Veneranter  signo, 

E.  REMBRY,  VIC.  GEN. 
Revo.  Dno  Victori  Day,  Helenam. 


THE  AMERICAN"  COLLEGE  BULLETIN  OF  LOUVAIN. 

John  B.  Brondel  was  the  third  of  our  alumni —  the  mar- 
tyred Seghers  having  been  the  first,  and  the  Rt.  Rev.  Or- 
dinary of  Peoria,  the  secoond — to  take  rank  among  the 
Episcopate  of  the  American  Catholic  Church.  If  there  was 
a  trait  of  his  character  that  shone  forth  pre-eminently 
among  all  others,  it  was  his  sterling  child-like  piety.  This 
virtue  he  evinced  not  only  in  the  regular,  careful,  even 
punctilious  discharge  of  his  daily  spiritual  exercises,  in  the 
minute  observance  of  the  liturgical  prescriptions  at  all  pub- 


28  TRIBUTES  FROM  THE  CLERGY 

lie  church  functions,  in  his  love  for  the  adornment  of  God's 
house,  in  the  attention  he  paid  himself  and  wished  his  priests 
to  pay  to  the  beauty  and  cleanliness  of  the  sacred  vestments 
and  the  altar  furniture,  but  also  in  his  ordinary  every  day 
conversation,  which  was  never  so  animated  as  when  it 
turned  on  devotional  subjects.  It  was  quite  natural  there- 
fore that  he  should  have  been  known  among  his  fellow  priests 
as  "Holy  John" — for  so  they  banteringly  called  him  and 
spoke  of  him,  when  he  was  still  a  priest  on  the  Washington 
mission.  All  through  life  he  remained  very  simple  in  his 
ways,  always  ready  to  help  and  to  assist,  where  help  and 
assistance  were  needed.  Though  highly  esteemed  for  his 
religious  zeal  in  all  that  concerned  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
the  people,  he  was  at  times,  as  one  who  knew  him  well  said, 
"hard  to  understand  and  somewhat  blunt  of  manner".  This 
was  probably  due  to  his  straighforwardness,  which  is  a  vir- 
tue neither  acceptable  to  the  worldly  prudent  nor  to  the 
guilty.  No  doubt,  in  common  with  all  men.  Bishop  Brondel 
had  his  faults,  which  as  a  true  Christian  he  was  the  first  to 
acknowledge  and  to  regret ;  but  they  were  far  outweighed  by 
his  good  qualities.  His  great  disinterestedness  and  his  un- 
divided ardor  to  procure  God's  glory  and  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  the  church  are  well  known  to  all.  To  the  service 
of  God's  Church  he  consecrated  himself  without  reserve  in 
the  early  days  of  his  youth,  and  to  the  end  of  his  compara- 
tively long  career,  he  remained  true  to  his  ideal,  giving 
himself  ,  his  faculties,  his  energies, — his  all  to  God.  He 
never  spared  himself;  and  we  may  say  that  he  laid  down  his 
life,  standing  at  the  helm;  for  he  was  stricken  down  on  a 
Saturday,  and  he  died  on  the  following  Tuesday.  When 
his  last  will  was  filed  for  probate  in  the  District  Court,  it 
was  made  public  that  his  estate  consisted  of  twenty-five 
dollars  in  cash  and  of  property  valued  at  five  hundred  dol- 
lars,— a  proof,  if  other  proof  were  wanting,  that  the  good 
Bishop  sought  not  on  earth  earth's  passing  guerdons  but 
rather  the  eternal  rewards  that  are  in  Heaven. 


flDemortal  a^^re00e0 

In  order  that  the  parishioners  of  the  Cathedral  nu^hl 
have  an  opportunity  of  giving  public  testimony  of  their 
love  and  esteem  for  the  deceased  prelate  who  had  been  at 
once  their  bishop  and  their  pastor,  a  meeting  was  called  on 
December  20,  at  St.  Aloysius  Hall.  The  speeches  made 
thereat  are  here  recorded.  The  meeting  was  opened  by 
Mr.  T.  J,  Walsh,  who  had  been  selected  as  presiding  otficer. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

This  meeting  is  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  commem- 
orating the  life,  services  and  virtues  of  the  late  Bishop 
John  B.  Brondel,  to  whose  soul  may  the  Lord  grant  peace. 

In  reproof  of  Queen  Catherine  for  harsh  words  spoken 
of  the  dead  Cardinal  Wolsey,  her  faithful  servitor  Griffith 
said,  "Madam,  men's  eyil  manners  live  in  brass;  their  vir- 
tues we  write  in  water."  For  the  good  deeds  of  Bishop 
Brondel,  for  his  saintly  life,  for  his  concern  for  our  tem- 
poral welfare  and  his  deep,  abiding  passion  for  our  eternal 
salvation,  we  shall  hold  him  in  grateful  remembrance,  and, 
reversing  the  maxim  of  the  poet,  write  his  faults  in  water. 

What  a  chaste  ambition  it  is  to  so  live  that,  dying,  those 
within  the  sphere  of  our  influence  may  point  the  youth  of 
the  time  to  our  lives  as  worthy  of  emulation  and  imitation! 
Not  a  mere  negative  goodness,  springing  from  a  selfish  de- 
sire to  save  our  own  souls,  with  little  concern  about  others, 
but  to  lead  a  life  of  action,  of  virtue,  and  of  charity. 

The  priestly  office  is  one  which  must  at  all  times  evoke 
the  reverence  and  respect  of  every  right-thinking  man, — 
to  labor  in  season  and  out  of  season  to  uplift  humanity, 
to  call  the  thoughts  of  men  from  constant  contemplation  of 
getting  and  keeping  the  treasures  and  the  pleasures  of  this 
life  to  a  higher  sense  of  duty  to  their  fellow-men,  and  their 
dependence  upon  and  aeconntability  to  their  Creator;  "to 


30  MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES 

point  the  path  to  heaven  and  lead  the  way;" — what  calling 
can  compare  with  it  in  dignity  or  in  honor?  Yea,  what 
calling  can  vie  with  it  in  the  incentive  it  holds  out  to  tire- 
less and  untiring  energy? 

The  high  conception  which  the  dead  prelate  held  of  his 
holy  office  led  him  to  prepare  himself  while  still  at  his 
•studies  for  a  life  of  toil  and  sacrifice  in  what  must  have 
seemed  to  him  and  to  his  friends  a  wilderness  all  but  in- 
terminable and  irredeemable.  Zealous  to  save  souls,  and 
taking  for  his  motto,  as  an  ever-present  reminder  of  his 
duty,  the  words  of  his  Lord  and  Master,  "other  sheep  have 
I  that  are  not  of  this  fold,"  he  expatriated  himself,  made  his 
home  with  the  savage,  led  the  van-guard  of  civilization  into 
this  great  region  of  the  northwest,  and  laid  down  his  life 
in  the  work  of  its  redemption.  To  the  hardships  endured 
in  his  missionary  labors  may  be  traced  directly  the  infirm- 
ities that  led  to  his  death  at  an  age  not  at  all  advanced,  so 
he  may  truly  be  said  to  have  died  a  sacrifice,  as  he  would 
have  wished. 

To  my  mind,  the  trait  that  most  endears  him  to  us  who 
knew  him  so  well,  was  his  childlike  simplicity  of  character,  a 
trait  the  Savior  praised  when  he  said,  "Except  ye  become  as 
little  children  ye  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
His  love  for  little  children  was  great.  He  shared  with  them 
the  joy  of  receiving  confirmation  at  his  hands,  and  the 
greatest  pleasure  he  ever  enjoyed  on  earth  was,  I  believe, 
to  bring  to  his  cathedral  church  the  remains  of  the  child- 
martyr,  to  be  forever  an  incentive  to  the  little  ones  to  love 
God  and  to  practice  virtue  in  the  days  of  their  youth,  even 
as  Leo  did  who  died  rather  then  deny  Christ  who  said, 
"Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me  and  forbid  them 
not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

May  the  all-wise  Ruler  send  to  us  a  worthy  successor. 


MAJOE  MARTIN  MAGINNIS. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

I  am  very  glad  of  this  op]~>ortunity  to  join  in  the  general 
expressions  of  sorrow  and  sympathy  for  the  loss  of  the 
pioneer  bishop  of  this  diocese.     A  pioneer  indeed,  not  only 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES  81 

in  the  christianizaiiou,  but  the  civilization,  the  very  crea- 
tion of  this  new  state,  among  the  founders  of  vi'hich  he  is 
enrolled  and  with  whose  history  his  name  will  be  forcvcT 
identified. 

His  labors  here;  the  works  of  religion  that  he  did,  the 
lessons  of  morality  and  righteousness  that  he  taught,  the 
principles  of  piety  and  patriotism  that  he  delighted  to  ex- 
pound are  parts  of  this  commonwealth  and  will  permeate 
it,  grow  with  it  and  expand  with  it  for  all  coming  time. 

No  state  can  flourish  whose  roots  are  not  planted  in  the 
virtue,  morality  and  honesty  of  its  people.  No  matter  how 
great  its  resources,  how  rich  its  mines,  how  pure  its  air,  how 
clear  its  waters  and  how  rapid  and  great  its  development, 
without  this  sustaining  soil  the  blight  of  corruption  will 
blast  it  and  it  will  hasten  to  its  decay.  How  fortunate 
then  to  have  so  pure  and  wise  and  good  a  man  as  our  late 
bishop  to  assist  at  its  outsetting  and  to  direct  its  growth. 

Born  beyond  the  sea,  he  followed  the  first  call  of  his 
manhood,  and  crossed  the  ocean,  and  all  the  difficult  roads 
over  the  continent,  till  he  reached  its  western  coast  and  be- 
came a  pioneer  missionary  to  its  Pacific  shores,  and  all  the 
mountain  ranges  and  valleys  of  the  west. 

As  a  young  priest,  on  foot  and  on  horseback  he  traveled 
all  the  forest  paths,  and  in  the  canoes  of  his  Indian  converts 
skirted  all  the  shores  of  the  inland  sea  called  Puget  Sound. 
From  settlement  to  settlement,  from  camp  to  camp — 
preaching,  baptizing,  confirming,  and  confessing  the  In- 
dians who  were  native  to  those  shores  and  the  struggling 
settlers  who  came  to  build  their  primitive  homes,  and  lay 
the  foundations  for  maritime  empire  on  the  great  ocean 
whose  other  bounds  were  China  and  the  Indies. 

All  along  these  shores  and  on  the  banks  of  tributary 
streams  you  can  even  now  hear  his  name.  Hear  of  the 
masses  that  he  celebrated,  the  churches  he  built,  the  men 
and  women  that  he  married,  the  children  that  he  baptized. 

The  trails  were  lonely,  the  paths  difficult  through  those 
primeval  forests.  The  Count  de  Montalambert  eloquently 
tells  of  the  clearing  and  settlement  of  Europe,  by  the  Monks 
of  the  West,  Chateaubriand  was  impressed  with  the  gloomy 
woods  through  which  he  first  listened  with  awe  to  the  roar 


82  MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES 

of  Niagara,  the  Belgic  tribes  were  lost  in  the  pines  of  the 
North  Sea,  and  dense  were  the  jungles  in  which  Herman 
concealed  his  hosts  from  Varus,  but  all  these  were  as  shrub- 
bery compared  to  the  titanic  trees  and  the  exuberant  under- 
growth that  covered  the  shores  and  mountains  of  Puget 
Sound. 

The  early  missionaries  who  first  carried  the  light  through 
primitive  Europe  had  open  country  compared  to  the  dense 
growths,  and  dark  and  damp  recesses,  through  which  he 
jo3'fully  carried  the  cross  of  his  faith.  So  well  and  so  zeal- 
ously did  he  do  this  that  he  was  chosen  to  be  the  Director 
of  the  new  diocese  of  Montana.  Here  he  found  more  devel- 
opment, and  a  greater  field.  Here  also  he  was  the  bishop 
of  the  Indians  and  the  Whites.  How  well  he  did  his  work 
you  all  know.  The  great  changes  that  have  come  in  his 
time,  but  the  beginnings  of  greater  ones  to  come  you  are 
familiar  with.  His  memory  will  be  linked  with  the  begin- 
ning of  it  all. 

He  was  a  learned  as  well  as  a  holy  man.  To  the  Greek 
and  the  Latin  of  his  scholastic  days  his  industry  had  added 
many  tongues.  He  spoke  the  German,  and  the  French 
and  the  English,  and  the  dialects  of  the  Indian  tribes.  Pa- 
tience and  toil  furnished  him  all  these  instruments  for  his 
labor.  His  was  indeed  a  strenuous  life.  His  piety  has  per- 
meated all  his  congregations.  His  charity  was  so  boundless 
that  there  was  nothing  left  when  he  was  gone.  There  was 
little  use  for  a  will — where  his  own  good  will  had  given 
all  to  charity.  His  life  was  all  given  to  humanity.  He 
devoted  himself  to  his  generation.  He  followed  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  master.  His  works  will  be  his  monuments; 
his  memory  a  continual  benediction. 


MR.  JAMES  A.  WALSH. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

We  meet  this  evening,  not  as  sympathizers,  but  as  mourn- 
ers. I  believe  that  I  express  the  sentiment  of  all  those 
present  when  I  say  that,  in  the  death  of  Bishop  Brondel, 
we  each  feel  a  sense  of  personal  loss.  We  not  only  mourn 
the  death  of  a  good  and  worthy  Bishop,  but  a  kind,  genial, 


Rt.  Rev.  John  Baptist  Brondel 

Bishop  of  Vancouver 

1879 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES  88 

generous  and  waim-heartcd  friend.  Those  who  knew  him 
best  loved  him  most.  He  had  the  happy  faculty  of  winning 
the  confidence  of  the  people  and  gaining  friends.  His 
friends  were  not  confined  to  any  class  or  creed.  Many  of 
his  warm,  personal  friends  were  not  members  of  the  church 
of  which  he  was  a  worthy  shepherd.  Outside  of  the  church, 
his  association  with  people .  of  all  classes  was  so  pleasant, 
and  his  manner  so  unassuming  and  cordial,  that  we  were 
prone  to  forget  the  Bishop  and  love  and  admire  only  the 
man. 

He  loved  his  fellowman.  His  name  is  worthy  to  be 
written  in  the  great  Book  of  Life,  high  above  that  of  Abou 
Ben  Adam,  because  he  not  only  loved  his  fellowmen,  but 
also  loved  and  faithfully  served  his  Divine  Master. 

The  children  loved  him.  In  him  they  had  a  kind  and 
sympathetic  friend.  For  them  he  always  had  pleasant 
words  of  greeting  and  kind  words  of  encouragement. 

A  review  of  the  life  of  Bishop  Brondel  would  be  in  sharp 
contrast  with  that  of  the  successful  man  of  today,  as  judged 
by  the  world's  standard.  The  usual  epitome  of  life  of  the 
successful  man  is  that  he  was  born  of  poor  parents,  suffered 
hardships  in  his  youth,  worked  his  way  through  school,  em- 
barked in  business  and  amassed  a  fortune. 

Bishop  Brondel  was  born  of  well  to  do  parents,  was  given 
the  advantages  of  the  best  schools  and  colleges,  and  acquired 
an  education  that  qualified  him  to  gain  distinction  in  al- 
most any  walk  of  life.  But  he  renounced  all  personal  and 
worldly  ambition,  and  consecrated  his  life  and  talents  to  the 
service  of  his  God  and  the  uplifting  of  his  fellowman.  He 
worked  zealously  in  his  chosen  field  during  forty  eventful 
years,  and  died  a  poor  man,  poor  in  this  world's  goods,  but 
rich  in  everything  else  that  makes  life  noble  and  worth  liv- 
ing. 

In  his  vigorous  young  manhood,  he  bade  adieu  to  his 
parents,  friends  and  native  land,  and  journeyed  toward  the 
setting  sun,  to  become  a  missionary,  in  a  land  then  chiefly 
inhabited  by  Indians.  For  those  Indians  he  had  the  love 
and  tenderness  of  a  kind  father.  For  their  civilization, 
conversion  and  uplifting  he  labored  earnestly  and  zealously. 

His  life  and  labors  as  a  missionary  Priest,  and  as  a  Bishop 


84  MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES 

are  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  Northwest.  The  results  of 
his  labors  are  apparent  in  Alaska,  Washington,  and  par- 
ticularly in  Montana.  During  his  laborious  and  eventful 
career,  he  suffered  untold  hardships,  of  which  he  seldom 
spoke,  and  never  complained.  Yet  who  would  change  the 
life  and  career  of  a  pioneer  for  any  other?  The  hardships 
are  many,  but  the  rewards  are  great.  To  witness  the  trans- 
formation of  a  country  from  a  wilderness  to  a  high  state  of 
civilization,  and  to  take  part  in  the  events  leading  to  that 
transformation,  is  a  high  privilege. 

Bishop  Brondel  went  to  the  Pacific  Coast  in  1866.  Where 
the  City  of  Tacoma  now  stands  was  then  a  primeval 
forest.  Where  the  metropolis  of  the  Northwest — Seattle — 
now  stands,  was  a  forest,  with  a  small  fishing  settlement  on 
the  shore  of  the  Sound.  When  he  came  to  Montana,  there 
were  few  churches  and  few  Priests.  Most  of  his  parishes 
could  be  reached  only  by  stage  coach  or  private  conveyance. 

Although  he  did  not  live  the  allotted  three  score  and 
ten  years,  he  witnessed  marvelous  changes  in  the  country, 
part  of  which  he  first  beheld  as  a  wilderness. 

Beautiful  Puget  Sound  that  he  formerly  navigated  in  a 
skiff,  when  traveling  as  a  missionary  Priest,  he  saw  white 
with  the  sails  of  the  world's  commerce,  and  with  thriving 
and  prosperous  cities  on  its  shores. 

In  his  own  beloved  Montana,  he  saw  the  Pullman  car  take 
the  place  of  the  stage  coach,  cities  built,  homes  established, 
and  the  resources  of  the  country  wonderfully  developed. 

In  all  that  tended  to  develop  the  country  and  its  re- 
sources, and  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  people,  he  took 
an  active  part. 

He  welcomed  with  open  arms,  the  worthy  young  Priests, 
who  followed  in  his  footsteps  to  the  Great  Northwest,  in 
obedience  to  the  command  of  the  Master  to,  "Go  forth  and 
teach  all  Nations." 

But  what  he  prized,  and  what  gratified  and  pleased  him 
most  of  all,  he  saw  throughout  the  Northwest  established, 
built,  and  equipped  churches,  schools,  academies,  colleges, 
hospitals  and  orphan  asylums.  For  many  of  these  great 
changes  and  improvements  he  h.id  the  foundation,  and  his 
was  the  master  mind  that  guided,  planned  and  directed.     He 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES  86 

had  plans  and  improvements  outlined  for  the  advancement 
and  benefit  of  his  Diocese  and  his  people,  and  was  working 
earnestly  to  carry  them  forward  to  completion,  when  the 
Divine  Master  bade  him  cease  his  labors,  and  called  him 
home  to  receive  his  reward.  Like  a  weary  child,  he  sank 
gently  to  rest.  He  sleeps  in  peace  amid  the  scenes  he  loved. 
The  mountain  winds  roam  'round  his  narrow  tomb.  With 
tear-dimmed  eye,  we  bow  our  heads  in  grief. 

We  mourn  him  as  dead,  but  his  spirit  lives  in  the  realms 
of  the  Blest. 

We  mourn  him  as  dead;  but  his  works  and  the  influence 
of  his  life  will  live  and  endure. 

While  the  bell  of  the  Catholic  Church  resounds  through- 
out this  mountain  State,  and  the  Pacific  Northwest,  calling 
the  people  to  Divine  Worship,  the  works,  influence  and  mem- 
ory of  John  Baptist  Brondel  will  live. 


Several  other  speeches  were  made,  of  which  we  have  no 
verbal  report.  Mr.  T.  J.  Laws  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the 
Bishop's  unassuming  personality  and  kindly  nature.  Mr. 
John  P.  Schmidt  voiced  the  sentiments  of  the  German 
Catholics  of  the  city  and  expressed  their  appreciation  of 
the  Bishop's  efforts  in  their  behalf.  Mr.  Wm.  Stuewe  most 
appropriately  chose  for  his  theme  the  keen  and  touching 
interest  which  the  late  prelate  ever  took  in  the  orphans  and 
in  their  Home.  General  C.  D.  Curtis  spoke  of  the  manifold 
work  accomplished  throughout  the  state  by  the  Eeligious 
Communities  of  women  under  the  wise  guidance  of  Bishop 
Brondel. 

Mr.  L.  F.  LaCroix  and  E.  R.  Purcell,  who  had  been  invited 
to  speak  but  were  unable  to  appear,  sent  the  following  let- 
ters: 

If  my  health  had  permitted,  it  would  have  been  a  pleasure 
to  devote  hours  to  the  preparation  of  a  paper  that  would 
have  given  expression  to  my  appreciation  of  good  Bishop 
Brondel.  Still  in  spite  of  an  indisposition  of  several  weeks 
standing,  which  incapacitates  me  from  attending  to  my  usual 
duties,  it  is  not  in  my  heart  to  omit  even  a  passing  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  the  noble  Bishop  that  your  assemblage 


36  MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES 

have  chosen  to  honor.  It  is  but  a  little  more  than  twenty 
years  ago  that  the  bell  on  Catholic  Hill  summoned  the  con- 
gregation to  meet  his  Lordship  who  had  just  arrived  in 
Helena.  To  us  it  seems  but  a  short  time  ago,  yet  it  is 
twenty  years  ago.  Montana  was  then  a  territory.  Its  prin- 
cipal towns  were  then  only  mining  camps.  To  thoroughly 
understand  what  this  period  of  twenty  years  means  we 
have  only  to  compare  the  present  position  of  the  Catholic 
church  in  Montana  with  what  it  was  when  Bishop  Brondel 
assumed  charge  of  this  diocese.  Instead  of  the  few  Jesuit 
priests  that  served  the  Catholics  of  the  State  as  best  they 
could,  now  there  is  not  a  community  of  any  size  that  has 
not  the  benefit  of  its  own  pastor.  Now  our  Fathers  seldom 
receive  summons  to  ride  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  on  sick 
calls.  Hospitals,  Orphanages,  Sisters'  Academies  abound 
all  over  our  State.  The  progress  of  the  church  has  kept 
pace  with  the  advancement  of  the  State.  Everywhere  is 
now  to  be  seen  the  church  that  dispenses  Divine  grace,  and 
crowned  by  the  sign  of  Eedemption.  Almost  as  by  magic 
have  these  evidences  of  Catholic  progress  struck  the  be- 
holder. They  testify  to  the  energy,  the  perseverance,  the 
zeal  of  Bishop  Brondel.  These  are  the  monuments,  more 
enduring  than  steel  or  marble,  that  attest  his  untiring  zeal 
in  the  cause  of  his  Heavenly  Master.  "WTien  he  laid  down 
his  burden  and  passed  to  the  great  beyond,  they  were  the 
credentials  that  obtained  his  welcome  at  St.  Peter's  gate. 
Very  Eespectfully  Yours, 

L.  F.  LA  CEOIX. 


I  deeply  regret  my  inability  to  attend  the  meeting  this 
evening  in  St.  Aloysius  Hall,  and  to  say  a  few  words  in 
memory  of  our  departed  friend  and  benefactor,  Et.  Eev. 
Bishop  John  B.  Brondel,  but  will  avail  myself  of  this  oppor- 
tunity to  pay  my  humble  tribute  to  his  noble  life  and  char- 
acter. 

I  have  no  words  to  measure  the  great  sorrow  I  feel  for 
the  death  of  Bishop  Brondel;  I  knew  him  long  and  well. 
He  was  an  honorable  and  just  man  and  a  loveable  gentleman, 
devoted  to  his  religion  and  the  uplifting  of  humanity  in 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES  37 

general.  What  was  nearest  to  Catliolicity  and  its  teachings 
was  always  uppermost  m  his  mind  and  heart.  His  whole 
life  was  devoted  to  the  work  assigned  him  in  his  calling, 
and  surely  it  was  well  done. 

He  was  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him  and 
the  many  cliurches  and  other  buildings  erected  by  his 
efforts  throughout  iMontana  are  monuments  to  his  memory. 

Men  may  pass  away  but  their  works  and  noble  efforts 
endure,  and  the  good  work  of  our  late  Bishop  Brondel  will 
in  time  make  one  of  the  brightest  pages  of  Montana's  his- 
tory. 

Eespectfully  Yours, 

K.  E.  PUECELL. 


When  all  the  speeches  on  the  program  had  been  delivered 
the  chairman  called  on  the  Very  Eev.  Administrator,  Father 
Day,  who  spoke  as  follows: 
Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

I  came  to  this  meeting  to  listen,  not  to  speak.  I  came  to 
listen  to  the  tributes  of  the  members  of  the  congregation  to 
the  memory  of  our  late  Bishop,  Et.  Eev.  John  B.  Brondel. 

While  I  listened  my  heart  became  filled,  well  nigh  to 
overflowing,  with  mingled  feelings  of  joy  and  sorrow,  feel- 
ings of  sorrow  at  the  thought  of  the  good  bishop  we  had 
lost,  sentiments  of  joy  because  his  varied  mental  attain- 
ments, his  sincere  piety,  his  devotion  to  duty,  his  singleness 
of  purpose,  his  affability,  goodnaturedness  and  kindly  man- 
ner received  due  recognition  at  the  hands  of  those  who  knew 
him  best.  I  shall  not  try  to  add  to,  much  less  to  improve 
upon  what  has  been  said  so  well.  This  portrayal  of  the  life 
and  labors  of  the  Eight  Eeverend  John  B.  Brondel  will  go 
down  to  history  and  give  to  posterity  a  true  conception  of 
the  apostolic  character  of  the  first  Bishop  of  Helena. 


Zbc  HDournind  ot  IRelidtous  Communttied 


THE  SISTEKS  OF  ST.  VINCENT  DE  PAUL. 

Of  our  dear  departed  Bishop,  what  can  we  say,  but  that  he 
died  as  he  lived,  at  peace  with  man  and  God,  with  the  full 
assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality.  It  is  not  necessary  in 
speaking  of  him  to  conjure  up  an  imaginary  picture  of  per- 
fection and  benevolence,  and  then  apply  it  to  his  character. 
No,  his  eulogy  would  be  written  by  the  mere  mention  of  the 
one  hundredth  part  of  what  he  accomplished  during  his 
twenty  years  of  arduous  labor  in  Montana. 

The  precepts  taught  and  the  example  given  us  by  our 
saintly  Bishop  are  living  teachers  wielding  over  us  a  greater 
influence  than  we  know.  He  is  gone,  but  the  lessons  of  his 
life  remain,  appealing  to  us  to  emulate  his  virtue  and  be 
steadfast  in  his  favorite  works,  instructing  the  young  and 
ministering  to  the  needs  of  the  poor  ajid  orphans. 

It  has  well  been  said  that  "The  great  man  is  he  who  does 
not  lose  his  child's  heart."  Never  was  the  heart  of  child- 
hood lost  to  the  plain,  candid,  friendly,  sympathetic  and  un- 
assuming friend  whose  loss  we  have  reason  to  mourn. 
This  kindly  simplicity  of  character  appealed  not  only  to  his 
clergy  and  religious,  who  were  his  chief  delight,  but  to  per- 
sons in  all  ranks  of  life,  from  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  our 
Great  Eepublic  to  the  poor  and  lowly. 

The  great  and  noted  point  in  his  character  was  his  deep 
religious  nature;  he  had  an  intense  love  for  the  Catholic 
church  and  all  its  practices.  During  all  his  priestly  life  he 
never  omitted  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  when  he  was 
able  to  perform  it. 

"Who  that  has  heard  his  mass — who  that  has  knelt 
In  the  sacred  temple  and  hearkened  to  his  voice 

Pleading  God's  cause  so  sweetly — but  has  felt 
A   secret  tlirill   which  made   his  heart   rejoice? 

And  going  forth,  has  breathed  a  sunnier  air. 
As  though  our  Lord  Himself  had  spoken  there !" 
We  have  dwelt,  perhaps,  too  fondly  on  these  details,  but 


THE  MOURNING  OF  RELIGIOUS  COMMUNITIES  89 

the  recollection  of  our  dear  Bishop  calls  up  ass.ociations 
endearing  by  their  holiness,  the  remembrance  of  which  we 
shall  always  love  and  cherish. 

Farewell — beloved  Bishop,  our  true  spiritual  guide  and 
counselor — faithful  friend  and  benefactor.  We  loved  you 
in  life,  we  shall  love  you  now  that  you  are  gone.  We  shall 
love  you  even  more  for  we  know  you  better  since  your  loss 
is  so  keenly  felt.  Although  we  have  reason  to  hope  that 
you  have  received  the  reward  of  your  great  virtues,  we  will 
continue  to  offer,  for  your  intentions,  our  prayers  and  good 
works;  it  is  but  just  that  we  pay  this  tribute  of  gratitude  to 
your  memory.  May  Jesus,  ]\Iary  and  Joseph  whom  you  so 
loved  and  served  upon  earth  meet  your  soul  at  the  foot  of 
the  Great  White  Throne  and  assign  it  a  place  of  eternal  rest 
and  joy  in  Paradise. 


THE  SISTERS  OF  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD. 

In  the  death  of  their  beloved  Bishop,  the  Sisters  of  the 
Good  Shepherd  located  in  the  City  of  Helena,  lose  a  much 
regretted  spiritual  adviser  and  benevolent  friend. 

To  his  indefatigable  efforts  is  due  the  founding  of  our 
institution  in  this  Diocese,  and  the  success  of  our  Mission 
is  in  a  large  measure  the  result  of  our  late  Bishop's  unwav- 
ering zeal  for  the  abandoned  of  "God's  Creatures."  He,  in 
his  charitable  christian  judgment,  made  not  distinction 
of  caste  or  class,  and  many  of  our  unfortunate  girls,  owe 
their  reformation  in  life,  and  restoration  to  the  Divine 
Clemency,  to  the  comforting  words  and  timely  succor  of 
Our  Revered  Shepherd  in  whose  demise,  we  unceasingly 
mourn  the  separation  from  a  kind  indulgent  Father,  and 
Benefactor. 


CONGREGATION^  qf  THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  JESUS. 

When  threatened  with  exile  from  France,  Mother  Mary 
de  St.  Blandine,  Superior  general  of  the  Daughters  of  Jesus 
had  offered  the  services  of  her  sisters  to  the  diocese  of 
Helena,  Right  Reverend  J.  B.  Brondel,  our  lamented  Bishop, 
accepted  her  appeal  with  great  joy,  and  bade  to  her  daught- 


40  THE  MOURNING  OF  RELIGIOUS  COMMUNITIES 

ers,  so  cruelly  persecuted  by  the  enemies  of  the  church  in 
France,  a  most  hearty  welcome. 

Our  first  colony  arrived  in  Helena,  August  21st,  1903, 
when  we  were  most  cordially  received  by  His  Lordship,  and^ 
from  there  strenghtened  by  his  blessing  and  his  encouraging 
words,  we  hastened  to  Lewistown,  Fergus  Co.,  Montana;  this 
first  field  of  labor  he  kindly  assigned  to  us.  On  September 
26th,  1903,  our  community  received  the  following  letter  of 
His  Lordship,  which  gave  glad  tidings  of  his  love  for  his 
new  community: 

Helena,  Montana,  September  24th,  1903. 
"To  whom  it  may  concern:" 

This  is  to  let  the  people  of  Lewistown  and  Fergus  County, 
Montana,  know  that  we  called  the  sisters  (named.  Daughters 
of  Jesus)  from  Brittany,  France,  who  were  exiled  from  their 
homes,  to  come  to  Lewistown,  and  establish  a  school  and 
also  a  hospital  to  satisfy  the  needs  of  the  people. 

We  are  heart  and  soul  in  wishing  them  success  and  we 
are  sure  that  with  the  cooperation  of  the  Keverend  J.  M. 
Vermaat,  rector  of  St.  Leo's  Church,  they  will  succeed  in 
their  great  work.  We  deed  to  them  the  half  of  the  church 
property,  at  Lewistovni,  to  begin  their  work. 

J.  B.  BEONDEL, 
Bishop  of  Helena. 

In  October  21st  His  Lordship  deigned  to  give  us  another 
mark  of  his  paternal  goodness  in  a  most  encouraging  letter 
in  which  he  again  expressed  his  pleasure  in  having  the 
Daughters  of  Jesus  at  work  in  Montana  and  his  anxiety  to 
bless  our  new  home  and  undertakings.  In  fact  he  promised 
to  be  with  us  in  the  first  part  of  November.  But  alas!  the 
Divine  Master  had  decided  otherwise,  and  on  November  the 
3d,  the  sad  news  reached  us  of  the  death  of  him  who  was 
for  the  Daughters  of  Jesus,  a  benefactor,  more  than  that, 
a  tender  father. 

Never  will  the  Daughters  of  Jesus  forget  their  dearly  be- 
loved Bishop,  J.  B.  Brondel,  but  will  try  to  be  worthy  of  the 
expectations  His  Lordship  had  in  bidding  us  welcome  to 
Montana. 


THE  MOURNING  OF  RELIGIOUS  COMMUNITIES  41 

May  eternal  happiness  be  his  reward,  is  the  sincere  prayer 
of 

Sister  MARY  PHILOMENA,  Supr. 
Sister  MARY  ST.  OSMANE, 
Sister  MARY  ST.  ZENAIDE, 
Sister  MARY  ST.  ZELIC, 
Sister  CAMILUS  MARY, 
Sister  MARY  NICHOLAS. 


URSULINE  SISTERS  OF  MONTANA. 

Who  has  not  stood  among  some  grief-stricken  people  from 
whom  a  high-souled  chief  has  been  taken  away?  Who  has 
not  sought  to  give  consolation  to  the  afflicted,  the  sorrow- 
ing? There  is  sympathy  in  thousands  of  hearts  all  over 
this  mighty  country,  wherever  our  beloved!  Bishop  was 
known. 

In  him,  the  church  has  lost  a  great  ruler,  and  Montana,  a 
great  man.  He  was  a  missionary  in  God's  great  idea  of 
that  word;  resourceful,  tireless,  valiant;  a  Marquette  in  his 
gentle  humility;  a  Breboeuf  in  his  heroic  intrepidity;  and 
a  Xavier  in  his  consuming  zeal.  His  charming  personality 
influencing  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  won  the 
hearts  of  all  whether  savage  or  refined.  He  was  a  great 
magnet  pointing  ever  to  God  and  duty;  and  seeking  ever 
the  enduring,  the  never-ending,  the  immortal;  never  hold- 
ing back,  but  doing,  and  urging  others  to  do  much,  to  build 
solidly  and  strongly  in  the  vast  West,  the  Faith  of  Rome. 
What  stern  devotion  to'  principle,  what  noble  disinterested- 
ness, what  lofty  uprightness  of  soul  are  manifested  through- 
out the  whole  life  of  this  truly  great  apostle! 

He  was  an  ideal  conversationalist.  His  interest  in  what- 
ever surrounded  him,  and  in  all  the  great  out-lying  world, 
afforded  him  a  fund  of  anecdote;  while  his  retentive  mem- 
ory of  his  travels,  and  his  good-natured  humor  made  him 
an  entertainer  in  any  circle.  He  took  genuine  delight  in 
children,  and  with  the  simplicity  of  the  truly  great,  had 
ever  a  word  for  them;  here,  a  story,  simple,  pleasing,  and 
elevating;  there,  a  puzzle,  giving  impulse  to  thought,  and 
leading  to  truth.     His  purity  of  heart  was  a  key  to  the 


42  THE  MOURNING  OF  RELIGIOUS  COMMUNITIES 

innocence  of  childhood.  His  presence  in  our  academies 
and  mission  schools  was  always  a  delight.  A  new  gladnesv^ 
danced  in  the  sunshine  of  our  pupils'  hearts,  when  our  ven- 
erahle  Bishop,  with  benignity  upon  his  face  and  encourage- 
ment upon  his  lips,  gathered,  like  the  Messiah,  the  little 
ones  around  him,  saying,  "Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  And  then  did  they  gather  as  peculiarly  precious 
every  ennobling  thought, that, emanating  from  his  Lordship's 
mind,  impressed  them  with  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  and  sur- 
rounded them  with  His  light.  These  are  memories,  but  they 
are  hallowed  memories,  whose  sweet  music  may  be  carried 
through  life  and  to  whose  spirit  nothing  is  alien  but  vice  and 
ignorance.  Whether  exercising  the  high  duties  of  his  sac- 
erdotal calling  or  humbly  stooping  to  the  least  of  these  little 
ones,  he  was  ever  serving  God,  ever  great  in  heart  and  sub- 
lime in  faith. 

In  this  age  of  electric  energy,  and  huge  activity,  in  the 
breathless  rush  after  wealth  and  power,  is  there  much  time 
given  to  thought  of  the  dead?  How  soon  are  the  dead 
forgotten!  But  there  are  some  divinely  gifted  men  whose 
names  never  die;  whose  memory  will  live  in  reverence 
throughout  remotest  time.  Bishop  Brondel's  name  will 
ever  remain  identified  with  the  West,  and  surrounded  by  a 
halo  of  merited  benedictions. 

Blessed  is  Montana  in  her  first  Bishop!  Blessed  is  our 
state  in  these  early  days,  when  churches  are  few  and  still 
fewer  the  priests,  in  having  a  valiant  laborer  in  holiest  of 
causes,  a  true  missionary  bishop.  He  has  faithfully  accom- 
plished the  work  appointed  him  by  the  Great  Master,  and 
has  gone  from  us  in  the  glory  of  renown.  He  died,  as  Car- 
dinal Manning  says  bishops  and  priests  are  proud  to  die, 
"Leaving  no  money  and  no  debts."  None  need  be  troubled 
about  his  will,  for  he  had  no  wealth.  What  an  eloquent 
record  is  this!  Yes;  blessed  is  this  diocese  in  having,  for 
nearly  twenty  years,  an  apostle  like  Bishop  Brondel!  and 
blessed  are  we  in  having  the  example  of  an  heroic  leader 
who  looked  to  God  in  all  things,  and  who  remained  faithful 
to  the  end.  We  do  not  dare  to  think  upon  our  loss,  but 
bowing  in  loving  submission  to  the  ^mW  of  God,  thank  Him 
for  so  true,  so  noble,  so  holy  a  Chief  as  our  revered  John 
Baptist  Brondel,  first  Bishop  of  Helena. 


IReeolutlons 


CATHOLIC  KNIGHTS  OF  AMEKICA. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  members  of  Kocky  Mountain 
Branch  No.  298,  Catholic  Knights  of  America,  held  Wednes- 
day evening,  Nov.  ith,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Charles 
D.  Curtis,  William  Stuewe,  John  T.  Laws,  James  D.  Coul- 
ton  and  John  J.  Clark,  was  appointed  to  draft  suitable  reso- 
lutions on  the  death  of  Bishop  Brondel.  This  committee 
reported  as  follows: 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  call  to  his 
eternal  reward  our  beloved  brother  and  venerable  bishop; 
and 

"Whereas,  John  Baptist  Brondel  administered  the  affairs 
of  the  diocese  of  Helena  in  a  spirit  of  broad  Christian  char- 
ity; and 

"Whereas,  In  his  life,  whether  as  an  intrepid  missionary, 
priest  or  pioneer  bishop,  benevolence,  wisdom,  simplicity 
and  piety  were  distinguishing  traits  in  his  character;  and 
"Whereas,  In  the  death  of  the  Eight  Reverend  John  Bap- 
tist Brondel,  the  holy  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  Montana 
has  lost  a  prelate  of  sterling  worth,  untiring  zeal  and  execu- 
tive ability;  the  reverend  clergy  an  unerring  counselor  and 
safe  spiritual  guide;  his  flock  of  fifty  thousand  Catholics  a 
faithful,  patient  and  watchful  shepherd;  the  orphans  and 
the  poor  a  compassionate  and  generous  benefactor;  the 
Indians,  whom  he  made  his  especial  protegees,  a  protector 
and  a  friend  'in  deed  and  in  truth;'  this  branch  of  the 
Catholic  Knights  of  America,  an  honored  and  esteemed 
brother  member;  the  United  States  of  America,  a  dignified 
and  patriotic  citizen;  the  state  of  Montana,  a  steadfast  sup- 
porter, and  the  city  of  Helena,  a  loving  and  loyal  son;  be  it 
therefore 

"Resolved,   That,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of 
our  deceased  brother,  the  charter  of  our  branch  be  draped 


44  RESOLUTION 

in  purple  and  black  for  a  period  of  sixty  days,  also,  that  a 
solemn  requiem  mass  be  offered  up  for  the  repose  of  his 
soul;  and,  be  it  further 

"Kesolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  entered  in  the  rec- 
ords of  this  branch  and  an  engrossed  copy  officially  signed 
by  the  president  and  secretary  be  transmitted  to  the  rela- 
tives of  our  deceased  brother  member  and  right  reverend 
bishop." 


CATHOLIC  ORDER  OF  FORESTERS, 
St.  Leo's  Court  No.  1137. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Catholic  Order  Foresters, 
a  committee,  consisting  of  John  Abel,  John  Laux,  Joseph 
Bertrand,  Timothy  Crowley,  was  appointed  to  draw  suitable 
resolutions  on  the  death  of  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Brondel. 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Cod  Almighty  to  call  to  his 
eternal  reward  our  beloved  and  venerable  bishop. 

Whereas,  In  his  life,  as  the  head  of  the  Catholic  Church 
in  Montana,  he  was  always  ready  to  do  good  and  never 
spared  himself  to  do  so. 

Whereas,  In  the  death  of  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Brondel,  the 
Catholic  Church  of  Montana  has  lost  a  prelate  of  untiring 
zeal  and  unbounded  benevolence,  and  the  Catholic  Order 
Foresters  an  esteemed  benefactor;  be  it,  therefore. 

Resolved,,  That  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of 
our  lamented  bishop  the  charter  of  our  branch  be  draped 
in  purple  and  black  for  a  period  of  sixty  days,  also  that  a 
solemn  requiem  mass  be  offered  up  for  the  repose  of  his 
soul ;  and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  entered  in  the  records 
of  our  court  and  a  copy  officially  signed  by  the  Chief  Ranger 
and  Recording  Secretary,  be  transmitted  to  the  Administra- 
tor of  the  Diocese  rnd  published  in  the  Argus  and  Democrat. 

J.  W.  KEARNEY,  Chief  Ranger. 
JOHN  F.  ABEL,  Rec.  Secv. 

Lewistown,  Montana,  Nov.   15,  1903. 


RESOLUTIONS  46 

HALLE  DES  ST.  JOSEPH  D.  E.  K.   UNTEliSTUETZ- 

UNGS  VEEEIN. 

Helena,  Mont.,  den  5ten  Nov.  '03. 
Hochw.  Vater  Day: 

Unterstehender  Antrag  wiirde  heute  Abend  von  unserera 
Verein  angenummen  und  ich  be-cile  mich  uicineni  Auftrag 
nachzukommen. 

Achtungsvollst, 

JOHN  P.  SCHMIT,  Praesident. 

ANTEAG. 

"Indem  wir  darauf  bedacht  sind,  dass  es  pfiicht  der  Kinder 
unserer  HI.  Kirche  ist  unseren  Vorgesetzten  solehe  Ehre  zu 
erweisen  wie  Ihnen  gebuehrt,  und  indem  wir  es  als  pfiicht 
erkennen  die  Begraebniss-Unkosten  unseres  hochwuerdig- 
sten  Bischofs  decken  zu  lielfen, 

Deshalb  sei  es  von  dem  St.  Joseph  D.  E,  K.  Unterstuetz- 
ungs-Verein,  jetzt  in  regelmaesiger  Versammlung,  beschlos- 
sen,  dem  hochw.  Abater  Day  fuer  diesen  Zweck  $50.00  anzu- 
bieten,  mit  der  Bitte  er  solle  selbige  gebrauchen  wo  er  es  am 
passensten  findet, 

Und  sei  es  ferner  beschlossen,  dass  wir  die  Ausfuehrung 
obigen  Beschlusses  unserem  Praesidenten  anvertrauen." 

Angenommen. 


ANCIENT    OEDEE    OF    HIBEENIANS. 

Whereas,  The  will  of  God  has  removed  from  our  midst 
our  spiritual  leader  Eight  Eeverend  Bishop  J.  B.  Brondel, 
D.  D. 

Whereas,  We  submit  to  the  Act  of  Providence  in  calling 
to  his  reward  our  Bishop  who  was  loved  by  his  followers, 
admired  by  his  friends  and  honored  by  citizens. 

Whereas,  The  unlimited  good  he  has  done  for  the  faith 
of  his  followers,  the  energy  spent,  the  suffering  endured,  the 
sacrifice  offered,  the  patient  efforts  under  trying  adversity 
in  the  execution  of  his  duty^  causes  us  to  manifest  our  es- 


46  RESOLUTIONS 

teem  of  him  who  was  faithful  to  the  dignity  of  his  calling; 
Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  this  Division  No.  1  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians  of  Cascade  County,  Montana,  proclaims  our 
respect  of  the  man  of  God  who  was  the  head,  in  this  Diocese, 
of  the  faith  we  cherish  and  believe  as  Irish  Catholics. 

Eesolved,  That  each  year  of  his  life  as  our  Bishop — was 
characterized  by  a  constant  increase  of  the  powers  and  in- 
fluence of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Eesolved,  That  his  great  piety  gave  spiritual  life  and  con- 
solation to  the  members  of  his  flock  in  cities,  in  urban  set- 
tlements and  mountain  huts.  His  great  learning  and  schol- 
arly attainments  hushed  the  utterings  of  the  prejudiced 
and  antagonists  and  illumined  with  the  word  of  truth  the 
dark  pit  of  ignorance  and  superstitions.  His  character  lived 
where  words  perish  and  was  an  example  which  brought 
those  living  in  dissension  to  reconciliation;  in  enmity  to 
friendship;  in  waywardness  to  righteousness.  His  combined 
excellences  made  him  a  model  for  his  clergy  and  flock. 

Resolved;  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  on  our  min- 
utes and  a  copy  sent  to  Rev.  Father  Day,  the  Administrator 
of  the  Diocese,  and  to  our  esteemed  State  President,  D.  J. 
Hennessy,  and  that  our  Charter  be  draped  for  thirty  days. 

M.  W.  GANNON, 
THOMAS  CURRY, 
CHARLES  REGAN. 


Zbc  IDoice  of  the  iprees 


"The  Weekly  Missoulian." 
BISHOP  BEONDEL. 

John  B.  Brondel,  who  died  in  Helena  yesterday,  was  a  re- 
markable man  in  many  respects.  He  was  a  strong  man, 
full  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness,  yet  brave,  energetic  and 
progressive.  At  the  head  of  the  Catholic  church  in  Mon- 
tana, his  rule  was  firm  yet  kindly.  He  endeared  himself  to 
all  classes,  all  religions  and  beliefs  because  of  his  upright- 
ness and  fairmindednes'S.  He  was  the  only  incumbent  of 
the  diocese  of  Helena  since  it  was  organized.     *     *     * 

His  character  is  well  described  in  these  few  words.  John 
B.  Brondel  was  a  man  dear  to  Montana,  because  Montana 
was  dear  to  him.     He  loved  the  state  and  loved  its  people. 


"The  Anaconda  Standard." 
THE  BISHOP  OF  HELENA. 

As  was  said  in  the  Standard  yesterday  morning  the  death 
of  Et.  Eev.  John  B.  Brondel,  Inshop  of  Helena,  was  a  visita- 
tion that  had  not  been  anticipated  by  the  public  or  even 
by  the  Catholic  clergy  in  the  diocese  of  which  he  was  the 
head. 

A  native  of  Belgium,  Bishop  Brondel  was  a  pioneer  worker 
in  this  country's  then  undeveloped  Xorthwest  when  he  was 
a  young  priest.  He  was  one  of  the  few,  comparatively,  who 
remained  permanently  in  this  field  from  the  time  when  he 
was  first  assigned  to  it. 

The  diocese  of  Montana  was  organized  in  1883;  Bishop 
Brondel  was  the  pioneer  bishop  in  it;  during  these  twenty 
years  he  has  been  tbe  central  figure  and  the  directing  hand 


48  THE  VOICE   OF  THE  PRESS 

1 
t 

in  all  the  movements  that  have  kept  the  growth  of  church 
work  abreast  of  the  rapid  advances  of  Montana  in  every  sec- 
ular field. 

As  an  organizer,  or  as  the  aggressive  manager  of  affairs, 
the  late  bishop  was  not  especially  distinguished.  But  he 
was  a  conservative  overseer,  a  man  of  prudence,  a  leader  of 
good,  practical  sense,  and  a  spiritual  chief  whose  daily  life 
and  walk  were  praiseworthy.  He  was  a  man  of  modesty 
and  of  piety;  always  during  his  career  as  bishop  he  main- 
tained a  position,  throughout  the  state,  as  a  man  of  influence 
and  prominence. 


"The  Montana  Daily  Record." 
BISHOP  BEONDEL. 

Et.  Eev.  John  B.  Brondel,  who  at  this  writing  is  reported 
as  seriously  ill,  perhaps  dying,  is  one  of  the  men  of  the 
church  who  is  peciiliarly  identified  with  our  Western  life. 
His  best  years  have  been  spent  on  the  frontier.  Thirty-seven 
years  ago,  when  he  was  comparatively  a  young  man,  he  came 
to  the  Pacific  coast.  He  made  his  headquarters  for  a  time 
at  Vancouver,  Wa-h.,  then  a  famous  center  of  civilization  in 
the  midst  of  a  wilderness.  He  was  sent  thence  to  Steila- 
coom,  Wash.,  where  for  ten  years  he  was  parish  priest.  We 
who  do  not  fully  realize  the  changes  that  have  taken  place 
in  a  quarter  of  a  century,  will  be  reminded  of  them  when 
we  know  that  Steilacoom,  now  hardly  thought  of,  was  then 
a  central  point.  Seattle,  today  big  with  boastful  industrial 
conquest,  was  then  a  dot  on  the  map.  There  were  only 
three  Catholic  families  in  the  fishing  village  of  that  day. 
It  was  years  before  the  foundation  of  a  Catholic  church  was 
laid. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  he  was  made  a  bishop.  He  was  still 
assigned  to  difficult  duties  on  the  frontier.  His  first  diocese 
composed  all  of  Vancouver  island  and  all  of  Alaska.  It  was 
a  wide  field.  By  far  the  greater  proportion  of  its  popula- 
lation  was  composed  of  Indians.  His  distinguished  services 
brought  him  uew  responsibilities — but  not  a  less  arduous 
task.     He  came  to  Montana,  organized  the  work,  was  made 


Rt.   Rev.  John  Baptist  Brondel 

His  Last  Photograph 

1903 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PRESS  49 

bishop  as  the  natural  result  of  his  great  toil,  and  has  ever 
since  then  presided  over  this  diocese.  Now  there  are  more 
than  50,000  Catholics  in  this  state. 

News  that  he  is  dangerously  ill  comes  suddenly.  Only 
yesteiday,  it  seems,  he  enjoyed  good  health.  But  his  work 
has  combined  heavy  physical  labors  with  such  mental  zeal 
and  such  constant  demand  upon  conscience  as  to  make  it 
almost  wonderful  that  the  good  bishop  has  been  sustained 
so  long.  In  life  he  will  have  the  prayers  of  all  good  religion- 
ists for  his  continued  well  being;  in  death  he  will  receive 
the  reward  that  is  justly  and  fully  his  due. 


"The  Helena  Independent." 
THE  DEATH  OF  BISHOP  BEONDEL. 

Wherever  the  Eight  Eeverend  John  B.  Brondel  was  known, 
and  his  acquaintance  went  far  beyond  the  confines  of  this 
state,  his  death  will  be  mourned. 

As  the  head  of  the  largest  religious  sect  in  Montana  he 
occupied  a  most  prominent  position,  and  wielded  a  very 
powerful  influence. 

The  eminent  place  he  held  in  the  Eoman  Catholic  church 
naturally  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure,  and  one  to  whom 
respect  would  have  been  shown  by  virtue  of  his  high  oflEice, 
even  though  he  had  no  other  claim  to  the  regard  of  the 
masses  of  the  people  outside  the  great  church  that  he  rep- 
resented. 

Thus  it  can  be  said  of  him  that  as  an  influential  dignitary 
of  the  Catholic  church,  respect  was  his  due,  but  during  his 
years  of  residence  in  Montana  he  gained  more  than  the  re- 
spect of  the  people  of  this  commonwealth,  for  at  the  time 
that  he  fell  into  his  last  sleep  and  gently  passed  from  this 
world  to  that  other  one,  he  had  in  his  possession  a  large 
part  of  the  affectionate  esteem  of  every  worthy  citizen  of 
the  state. 

The  respect  he  obtained  was  due  to  the  sentiment  the 
public  holds  for  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  the  affec- 
tionate regard  felt  for  him  was  the  tribute  of  the  people 
to  the  personality  of  a  great  and  good  man. 


60  THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PRESS 

The  sketch  of  Bishop  Brondel's  life,  published  in  The 
Independent  yesterday,  though  brief,  tells  a  story  of  self- 
sacrifice  and  a  life  devoted  to  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity. 

Born  in  a  far  distant  European  country,  this  man,  at  an 
early  age,  became  inspired  with  a  desire  to  uplift  his  fellow 
men  and  in  his  youth  came  across  the  ocean  to  bring  the 
painted  savages  the  message  which  Christ  left  to  the  world. 

A  soldier  of  Christianity,  Bishop  Brondel,  armed  solely 
with  that  sacred  emblem  of  his  holy  calling,  triumphed  over 
the  forces  of  ignorance  and  superstition  and  brought  light 
and  love  to  human  minds  that  hitherto  had  been  controlled 
by  darkness  and  hatred. 

The  world  is  so  constituted  that  it  is  apt  to  dwell  too  much 
upon  the  feats  of  those  who  win  victories  by  the  sword  and 
think  too  little  of  those  who  have  secured  bloodless  conquests 
with  the  cross. 

The  mother  church  finds  a  place  for  all  her  sons  and  notic- 
ing his  sturdy  qualities  and  steadfastness  of  purpose,  she 
determined  that  Bishop  Brondel  in  his  youth  should  be  a 
Christian  pioneer,  and  right  worthily  has  he  fulfilled  the 
task  assigned  him. 

Twenty  years  ago  his  lot  took  him  into  pleasanter  fields, 
bringing  him  to  Montana  as  bishop  of  Helena. 

Since  that  time  he  had  seen  with  a  father's  pride  and 
watchfulness  his  church  grow,  prosper  and  gain  great  in- 
fluence in  this  commonwealth. 

Next  to  his  attachment  for  his  church  he  loved  Montana, 
and  Helena  has  had  no  more  loyal  citizen,  and  none  that 
took  a  greater  interest  in  its  welfare. 

It  was  a  cherished  hope  of  his  that  he  would  live  to  see 
the  day  when  the  church  would  have  a  stately  cathedral 
here  that  would  be  not  only  the  pride  of  Catholics,  but  of 
all  the  people. 

There  were  other  growing  and  new  communities  that 
needed  places  of  worship,  and  until  these  wants  were  sup- 
plied, and  they  are  not  entirely  filled  yet,  he  never  urged 
upon  his  people  to  undertake  the  building  of  that  edifice, 
which  would  have  brought  so  much  gratification  to  his  own 
generous  and  kindly  heart. 

Many  of  those  who  had  been  watching  the  progress  of 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PRESS  61 

events  and  who  could  not  forsee  that  this  man  of  God  was 
to  be  called  so  soon,  had  hoped  that  he  would  be  spared  to 
see  the  ambition  which  he  had  I'or  iiis  church  fulfilled  before 
his  final  sununons  came. 

The  grief  over  the  death  of  Bishop  Brondel  falls  the  sever- 
est upon  the  members  of  the  same  faith  who  looked  upon 
him  as  a  spiritual  father,  but  the  sorrow  does  not  end  there, 
for  those  who  have  no  such  clo:^e  claim  to  stand  beside  his 
bier  and  mourn,  nevertheless  feel  their  hearts  weighed  down 
by  sadness,  as  they  are  called  upon  to  part  with  a  true 
friend,  a  good  neighbor  and  an  ideal  citizen. 


"The  Bozeman  Chronicle,  Nov.  11." 

From  that  time  on  (the  date  of  the  appointment  of  John 
B.  Brondel  as  first  bishop  of  Helena)  the  biography  of 
Bishop  Brondel  is  the  history  of  Catholicism  in  Montana. 
Bishop  Brondel  was  greatly  beloved,  not  only  by  the  entire 
membership  of  the  church  over  which  he  presided,  but  by 
every  citizen  of  Montana  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his  ac- 
quaintance. He  was  not  only  an  earnest  and  faithful  mis- 
sionary of  the  cross,  but  he  was  a  clever,  cheerful  and  cour- 
teous gentleman  in  all  his  relations  of  life — deservedly  re- 
vered and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 


"The  Great  Falls  Daily  Leader,  ^on.  4." 

The  death  of  Bishop  John  B.  Brondel  removes  from  the 
scene  of  life  one  who  was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him, 
regardless  of  their  religion  or  faith.  Bishop  Brondel,  while 
a  strict  Catholic,  was  a  tolerant  man,  and  in  all  his  relations 
with  the  people  of  Montana  such  toleration  earned  for  him 
an  enviable  reputation. 

His  work  in  the  United  States  and  in  Montana  was  such 
as  to  commend  him  not  only  to  the  heads  of  the  Church, 
but  to  all  men  who  are  interested  in  the  progress  of  civiliza- 
tion. Going  to  the  northern  coast  of  the  Pacific  at  an  early 
day,  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  civilization  in  that  por- 


6$  THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PRESS 

tion  of  the  country,  and  the  influence  of  his  work  is  still 
felt  in  that  region.  In  Montana  his  work  has  been  of  equal 
benefit  to  all  the  people.  He  denied  his  ministrations  to  no 
portion  of  his  wide  field,  his  visitations  being  made  with 
regularity  and  his  zeal  being  unflagging. 

Bishop  Brondel  was  always  a  diligent  and  patient  student 
and  stood  forth  among  his  fellows  as  a  man  of  high  intel- 
lectual attainments.  He  was  a  deep  thinker,  a  ready  speaker 
and  a  writer  of  eloquence  and  force.  He  was  distinctly  in- 
dividual and  had  a  marked  force  of  character  in  connection 
with  his  dignity  and  personality. 

As  a  man  and  as  a  Christian  Bishop  he  was  respected, 
admired,  revered  by  all  citizens  of  Montana,  and  not  only 
have  the  Catholics  of  the  State  lost  their  leader  and  their 
friend,  but  all  the  people  of  the  State  have  lost  a  good  citi- 
zen and  a  firm  friend. 


"The  Great  Falls  Daily  Tribune,  Nov.  4." 

Among  those  who  class  themselves  as  friends  of  Bishop 
Brondel  are  people  of  every  class  and  every  creed.  A  devout 
Catholic,  with  whom  religion  was  not  a  sentiment,  but  an 
unalterable  reality,  he,  like  all  men  who  have  attained  great- 
ness, was  liberal  minded  to  a  degree,  and  could  appreciate 
a  Christian  Spirit  even  though  it  was  not  clothed  in  the 
religion  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  life.  To  his  countless 
non-Catholic  friends  he  often  expressed  the  sentiment  that, 
while  he  wanted  to  see  the  Catholic  religion  embrace  all 
mankind,  he  had  no  quarrel  with  a  believer  in  God  and  a 
follower  of  Jesus  Christ  and  a  man  who  did  good  to  his 
fellowmen,  no  matter  in  what  name  he  cloaked  his  Chris- 
tianity, adding  that  it  was  the  devil  and  his  followers  he  was 
after.  A  prince  of  the  Church,  Bishop  Brondel  was  demo- 
cratic in  spirit,  and  during  his  long  service,  no  man,  woman 
or  child  was  too  lowly  to  receive  a  kind  word  of  advice  or 
sympathy  from  the  good  bishop,  and  while  Catholics  loved 
him  for  his  great  work  in  behalf  of  the  Church,  the  non- 
Catholic  world  admired  him  for  his  depth  of  character  and 
his  true  Christian  spirit. 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PRESS  68 

"The  Butte  Miner." 
BISHOP  BRONDEL. 

Yesterday  morning  the  Miner  contained  tlie  said  an- 
nouncement of  the  death  of  Bishop  Brondel,  of  Helena,  the 
head  of  the  Catholic  churcli  in  this  state,  together  with  a 
biographical  sketch  and  portrait  of  that  eminent  divine. 

The  death  of  the  prelate,  while  not  wholly  unexpected 
by  his  immediate  friends,  came  as  a  shock  to  the  public  that 
was  unprepared  for  the  decree  of  Providence  that  removed 
this  noble  man  from  the  field  of  religious  activity  on  earth 
to  a  Justly  earned  reward  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father  above. 

Bishop  Brondel  was  a  man  of  great  intellectuality  and 
splendid  attainments,  and  his  qualities  of  head  and  heart 
endeared  him  not  only  to  the  church  over  which  he  presided 
with  such  marked  ability  but  to  all  our  citizens,  regardless 
of  their  religious  affiliations. 

He  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  broad-minded  citizen, 
concerned  in  the  welfare  and  best  interests  of  the  state,  as 
well  as  an  earnest  and  devout  ecclesiast  ever  watchful  over 
the  interests  of  the  great  religious  organization  which  he 
loved  so  well. 

Identified  with  the  history  of  Montana  for  many  years, 
he  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  every  citizen  of 
the  state,  as  a  man  who  had  the  interests  of  his  fellowmen 
at  heart  and  whose  counsels  were  ever  helpful  to  those  whom 
he  so  faithfully  and  sincerely  served. 

Montana  owes  much  to  the  memory  of  Bishop  Brondel, 
not  only  as  the  head  of  a  great  religious  society  that  has 
grown  and  prospered  under  his  ministrations  and  advice, 
but  as  a  citizen  and  a  man  whose  voice  and  pen  were  ever 
devoted  to  the  advancement  of  the  commonwealth  along 
material  lines. 

He  will  be  greatly  missed  both  by  the  membership  of  the 
church,  over  which  he  so  lovingly  presided  for  many  years, 
and  by  those  who  had  learned  to  admire  his  ability  and  up- 
rightness of  purpose  in  the  secular  walks  of  life. 


6 


64  THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PRESS 

"The  Butte  Inter-Mountain." 

BISHOP  BEONDEL. 

There  is  a  peculiar  pathos  in  the  fact  that  the  last  ap- 
pearance of  Bishop  Brondel  in  public  was  in  Butte  recently 
when  he  took  part  in  the  impressive  funeral  services  over  the 
remains  of  the  late  John  (Japlice,  honored  pioneer,  high- 
minded  citizen  and  noble  and  generous  business  man.  The 
two  had  much  in  common.  Both  aided  materially  in  the 
making  of  the  commonwealth,  both  were  powers  for  good  in 
the  state,  both  were  pioneers  of  Montana,  both  led  lives 
that  were  examples  and  models  for  the  younger  generations. 
The  one  a  layman  and  the  other  a  prelate,  each  played  well 
his  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  Such  men  are  none  too  many. 
The  state  has  suffered  in  their  death. 

Simple  in  taste,  democratic  in  manner  and  unaffected 
and  profoundly  sincere  in  his  religion.  Bishop  Brondel  was 
the  type  of  clergyman  whose  presence  in  any  community 
makes  for  good.  There  was  no  bigotry  or  intolerance  in 
his  makeup.  Broad  and  liberal  in  views,  though  his  faith 
to  him  was  his  very  life,  he  honored  and  respected  those  of 
other  creeds  who  yet  sought  in  their  own  ways  to  follow 
in  the  footsteps  of  the  Master.  Anything  that  was  for  good, 
for  Christianity  and  for  charity,  had  his  hearty  support  and 
commendation.  Nearly  all  the  days  of  his  manhood  were 
engaged  in  the  church's  work  in  the  Far  Northwest,  suffering 
untold  hardships  in  the  earlier  periods,  enduring  the  priva- 
tions and  cheerfully  making  the  sacrifices  that  the  life  of  a 
missionary  entail.  He  was  a  man  the  church  did  well  to 
honor  by  elevating  to  the  rank  which  he  held  so  long  and  the 
duties  of  which  he  discharged  so  well.  A  faithful,  earnest, 
obedient  priest,  he  became  an  ideal  bishop  and  administrator. 

All  Montana,  all  the  Pacific  Northwest  knew  him  well. 
His  benign  face,  his  cheerful,  though  dignified,  manner,  his 
words  of  consolation  and  hope  and  kindness  made  his  pres- 
ence in  the  home  or  on  the  altar  an  event  to  be  cherished 
in  memory.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that  during  his  20  years' 
service  as  bishop  in  Montana  he  confirmed  in  the  Catholic 
faith  fully  10,000  persons.  But  his  deeds  of  individual 
charity  and  Christ-like  love,  eq^^ally  as  important  in  the 
true  worship  of  the  Father,  outnumbered  this  many  times. 
He  was  a  noble  man,  a  true  Christian,  a  splendid  prelate. 


At  the  Crow  Agency 

Photo  by  the  Indian  Missionary,  Father  Prando,  S.  J. 


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